Boca Surf Park has been ranked the top proposal for the city’s new North Park by the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District, following two nights of public presentations from nine applicants. Presented by Cheyne Cottrell and Matt Oliveira, the surf park would occupy approximately 23.8 acres — 18.2 acres for the surf facility and 5.6 acres for infrastructure and buffers.
The proposal is backed by a private investment group and aims to bring consistent, high-quality waves and related amenities to South Florida, a region often lacking reliable surf conditions. The Cottrell family, through Island Water Sports, has been a part of the local surf and skate community since 1978.
Though the exact location has not been made public, developers confirmed that a site has been identified. They cited regional growth, accessibility, and long-term value as key factors in its selection. Discussions with city officials are ongoing, and a formal project timeline will be released following the completion of entitlements and approvals.
The surf park will feature a Wavegarden Cove, a closed-circuit surf lagoon using between 25,000 and 50,000 cubic meters of water. According to the developers, the system can run on rainwater or greywater and will recycle water with minimal evaporation loss.
Noise mitigation measures include landscape buffers and enclosed mechanical systems. Wave-generation equipment is expected to operate at 45 to 50 decibels — comparable to ambient electric vehicle noise. Developers noted that the park’s location may also serve as a sound barrier against traffic noise from the nearby I-95 corridor.
Lighting will be focused on the lagoon with levels under 10 lux at the property boundary, minimizing spillover into surrounding areas. The design includes native landscaping and low-rise structures to integrate with the existing environment.
Developers said community access and public recreation will be part of the final design. Investment inquiries are being accepted on a limited basis, and future project updates will be shared via the Boca Surf Park website.
The project ranking portion of this story was originally sourced via the Boca Tribune news outlet. You can read the full article by Marci Shatzman here.
