Boca Raton: City beach restoration work earns national recognition

The city has received a national award for its beach restoration efforts. The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association ASBPA named Boca Raton a winner of its 2008 Best Restored Beach Award, city officials announced. The association recognized Boca Raton and four other cities nationwide.

The city got the award for its North Beach restoration, which has been renourished in 1988 and 1998 and is scheduled for work later this year. The North Beach section runs from Red Reef Park to the city's northern boundary.

North Boca Raton, FL: This project is characterized by its longevity, environmental sensitivity and foresight. In the 1970s, the city acquired three large beachfront properties to convert into public parks. In today’s dollars, the parks are worth over $330 million, making these parks the city’s most valuable asset. North Boca is a model beach project because most residents and visitors do not realize that it is a restored beach.

Association officials said in a press statement that it judged the award based on the economic and ecological benefits of a restoration project, the long- and short-term success and the challenges the project faced. The association also recognized Olympic Sculpture Park in Seattle, Kuhio Beach in Waikiki, Hawaii and in Florida, Destin and Walton counties and Venice Beach.