The beach at A1A (North Ocean Boulevard) and Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton FL, Oct. 30, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
Boca Raton is planning the construction of a new beach pavilion and entrance along A1A, aimed at improving beach access and replacing a structure that was destroyed by previous vehicle crashes.
The new beach pavilion is planned to be built at the intersection of North Ocean Boulevard (A1A) and Spanish River Boulevard, a guarded public beach which also carves out an area for use as the city’s “dog beach.” The beach entrance at the intersection currently consists of a sandy area at grade, flanked on either side by a mix of vines, local and invasive species, with a Mobi-Mat leading to the beach berm. The area has proven problematic on a few fronts – most notably, its propensity to be struck by careless motorists as well as light pollution that spills onto the beach, affecting the sea turtle population.
“The existing condition, when cars pull up in the evening, is that lights do hit the beach at night,” said Kent Edwards, the city’s Coastal Environmental Program Manager, during an Environmental Advisory Board meeting Thursday night.
The beach at A1A (North Ocean Boulevard) and Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton FL, Oct. 30, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
The beach at A1A (North Ocean Boulevard) and Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton FL, Oct. 30, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
The board was hearing the city’s application as part of the larger hearing process that will eventually make its way through the city land use boards and, ultimately, to the city council. The pavilion project requires a variance for construction since it sits east of the Coastal Construction Control Line, or CCCL, which automatically adds the requirement for all construction east of A1A.
The beach is also more prone to erosion, Edwards said, since its entrance is not sloped and graded like most of the city’s other beaches. The presence of thick vines, and invasive plant species such as the Brazilian peppertree, have also had a deleterious effect on the environmental health of the beach. Finally, officials said, the current layout of the entrance to the popular beach needs to be made safer for pedestrians.
“There is a known safety issue regarding cars,” said Mike Jenkins, an engineer with GeoSyntec, a firm that has been contracted by the city to work on the project. “More than one car has gone straight at this intersection before, and that is why there is no pavilion there now.”
The last major accident at the intersection took place in 2021, when a driver from Miami crashed his Honda Accord into the previous pavilion on St. Patrick’s Day, having failed to navigate a left turn. More recently, a driver was arrested on DUI charges after jumping the curb at the traffic light at the intersection, however the curb prevented the vehicle from careening out of control. The new pavilion will come with new entrances for pedestrians that will be protected by a series of bollards capable of stopping vehicles from hitting either people or the pavilion itself. Pedestrians will be kept “farther from the road,” according to officials.
The beach at A1A (North Ocean Boulevard) and Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton FL, Oct. 30, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
The beach at A1A (North Ocean Boulevard) and Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton FL, Oct. 30, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
The project will include the construction of a pavilion where visitors will have room to enter the beach or take a seat. It will come with new shower and foot wash faucets, as well as a water bottle refilling station and a device to allow dog bowls to be filled, given the fact that a portion of the beach is pet-friendly. Officials also touted a layout that will prevent light from reaching the beach, as well as better grading of the sand.
“Green turtles, in particular, will walk up a straight path and keep going until they reach something,” said Jenkins, explaining one of the reasons for the decision to add a slope to the entrance.
“This is an ADA-compliant ramp, and that is another reason why we have a sloped grade,” he said. “One of the parts of the design is that we are physically moving pedestrians away from the road, and placing a physical obstruction between people and the road.”
The area is particular suited for this type of project, he added.
“This is all well-landward of the primary dune, and it’s actually elevated,” said Jenkins, touting its resilience during the recent wind event and king tide. “That area is probably the best area in the city – as of Tuesday, there wasn’t even an escarpment at that location and there was a good level of sand at the beach.”
The beach at A1A (North Ocean Boulevard) and Spanish River Boulevard in Boca Raton FL, Oct. 30, 2026. (Photo: Boca Daily News)
The board would go on to endorse the project, for which renderings do not yet exist due to its early stage, unanimously.
“I don’t think you’re going to get any pushback on this because I know this building was pretty popular,” said board member Monica Mayotte. “I think this is a well thought-out plan and the replacement of a place that was very popular in the city that is very missed.”
A city Public Works officials who attended the meeting said the project has been in the works for several years, and has been reviewed for relevant permits and overall design. It has seen coordination with the city’s Recreation Services Department, and new planting will be kept up after the work is completed. The invasive vines and other species at the site will be removed and replaced with native plantings.
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