The Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park, Formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, located just south of Port Everglades in the city of Dania Beach, is widely considered to be the last example of an undeveloped coastal ecosystem in Broward County, FL.

Tucked away in the South Florida Metropolitan area concrete jungle, the oasis that is Dr. Van D. Mizell-Eual Jonson State Park allows visitors the unique opportunity to experience an undisturbed refuge while also giving them the chance to engage in natural outdoor amenities such as fishing, birdwatching, scuba diving, shelling, and more.

Continuing Services Met with Multi-Disciplinary Expertise

As part of WGI’s Continuing Services Contract with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s (FDEP) Bureau of Design and Construction, our team of experts were commissioned to provide structural engineering, construction administration, surveying, and environmental services on behalf of the FDEP Division of Recreation and Parks. The mission was simple: to both design and permit the repair/replacement of an approximately 450-foot elevated wooden beach boardwalk and a 1,000-foot frangible concrete jetty walkway located within the Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park and adjacent to the Port Everglades inlet.

WGI’s permitting experts successfully cleared all environmental permitting authorizations to facilitate project construction, including a Broward County Environmental and Growth Management Division General License, South Florida Water Management District Exemption Verification, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Section 10/14 Nationwide Permit and 408 Approval, and Florida Department of Environmental Protection Coastal Construction Control Line Permit. To facilitate coastal permitting, WGI conducted a coastal dune vegetation survey to assess potential impacts on dunes for construction access considerations. Construction staging, lighting, and seasonal restrictions were applied to promote sustainable means and methods and avoid adverse impacts on the beach, dunes, and marine sea turtles and their habitat during nesting season, which runs from March 1 through October 31.

Proactive Collaboration and Communication to Overcome any Obstacle

Due to the boardwalk’s overlapping construction with the Port Everglades South Jetty Rehabilitation and Broward County Beach Renourishment projects, WGI coordinated extensively with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the U.S. Navy throughout the planning, design & construction phases of the project to ensure the safety and success for both projects, with heightened sensitivity due to close proximity to the Navsea Warfare Center.

Currently under construction with an anticipated 2024 completion date, the FDEP and WGI, in close collaboration with the USACE, have committed to restoring this area of the State Park to provide Dania Beach residents and visitors alike a treasured sanctuary that can be enjoyed for years to come!

Multi-Disciplinary Service Offerings Catered for YOU

With extensive experience and an array of multi-disciplinary services offered under one roof, our national award-winning team is ready to tackle any challenge to creatively transform how our world is envisioned, designed, and experienced. Contact our team today & let’s discuss how we can elevate your next project to bring your vision to life!