With planes taking off and landing on the airstrip at Boca Raton Airport, there’s now a place that aviation buffs can take a seat and watch it all unfold.
On Tuesday morning, the airport unveiled its new observation deck, which is free and open to the public from sunrise to sunset.
“For us, this is an opportunity to give back to the community that has supported us for the last 75 years and beyond,” says Clara Bennett, the executive director of the Boca Raton Airport Authority.
The observation space rises at a gentle slope to a 4-foot incline, with a circular path taking visitors to the deck with benches under a canopy of white sails. Since there are no stairs, people pushing strollers or those who use wheelchairs and walkers can easily make their way to the observation area. In the middle of the circle is a grassy space, with a green pole jutting into the sky with signage of airports and their codes.
From ground speakers, one can listen to pilots speaking to the traffic control tower as they wait in line to take off or make their way back to the ground. Surrounding the fenced observation deck is signage educating visitors about the planes overhead as well as the species who call the area home, including the gopher tortoise and burrowing owl (the mascot of FAU).
“With this facility, we aim to inspire youngsters and help them discover the magic of flight and possibly pursue careers in aviation,” said Bob Tucker, chair of the Boca Raton Airport Authority.
During the ribbon cutting, one parent suggested that it would be a great place to bring kids for a birthday party. Another guest said it could be a unique date activity.
The Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport has a smaller, shaded observation area with three picnic tables while Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and Palm Beach International Airport both have nearby parks where the public can watch the planes.
Bennett said that representatives from area airports were invited to attend the reveal, and they walked away with some inspiration—that they want to improve upon their observation spaces.
Check out our reel on Instagram to see more of the observation deck!
How to get there: Enter 903 NW 35th St., Boca Raton into your GPS navigation system. After turning off Northwest Eighth Avenue, you’ll see the signage for the administrative office for the airport. The observation deck is next to it.
