Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park |
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IUCN Category IV (Habitat/Species Management Area)
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 Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park
Location in Florida
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| Location | Broward County, Florida, USA |
| Nearest city | Hollywood, Florida |
| Established | 1973 |
| Governing body | Florida Department of Environmental Protection |
Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park is a special Florida State Park located in Dania Beach, Florida. You can find it right off Florida State Road A1A. This park is named after two important civil rights leaders, Dr. Von Mizell and Eula Johnson. For many years, they worked hard to make sure there was at least one beach in Broward County for African Americans. In 1961, they led peaceful protests called "wade-ins" in Fort Lauderdale. These actions helped end the separation of people by race on the county's beaches the very next year. The park was once named after John U. Lloyd. He was a lawyer for Broward County for over 30 years. He played a big part in getting the land for this park.
A Special Place: History of the Park
This park first opened in 1953. It was originally the only beach in Broward County where African Americans were allowed to go. It was simply called "the Colored Beach." Getting this beach open took a lot of effort. Dr. Mizell and others worked for seven years to make it happen.
After the beach was open, there was another challenge. There was no road to get to the beach. People could only reach it by boat! It took until 1965 for a road to be built. Thanks to the brave efforts of Dr. Mizell and Eula Johnson, all beaches in Broward County became open to everyone in 1962. This meant people of all races could enjoy the beaches together.
On July 1, 2016, the park was renamed. It became the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park. This was done to honor the important work these two civil rights heroes did.
Fun Things to Do at the Park
There are many exciting activities you can do at the park. You can go fishing or try surf casting from the shore. If you like being on the water, you can go canoeing or kayaking. Of course, swimming and boating are also popular. It's a great place for a picnic with friends and family. You can also enjoy watching the local wildlife.
The park has many helpful things for visitors. There's a beautiful beach and two places to launch boats. You can also find an education center to learn more about the area. There are picnic tables, grills, and seven covered picnic areas. You can even rent canoes, kayaks, picnic pavilions, and volleyball nets and balls. The park is open every day from 8:00 AM until the sun goes down.
Inside the park, you'll find Whiskey Creek. This is a special inlet that serves as a safe place for manatees. It's like a sanctuary for them. The park also has the Dania Beach Erojacks. This is a popular reef that scuba divers love to explore underwater.
