Broward Park Faces Pickleball Backlash: A recent proposal by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) includes changes to several state parks, notably Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Broward. This park, once known as Broward’s designated “Colored Beach” during segregation, has faced strong opposition from the local Black community, who argue that the park’s historic significance must be preserved. “Let’s have respect for the history that’s there, and not try to gentrify the beaches,” said Emmanuel George, a community archivist and historian behind the Instagram account Black Broward, which documents the county’s Black history.
Historical Context of the Park
The park’s history dates back to 1946 when the Negro Professional and Business Men’s League petitioned for a public beach for Black residents. By 1954, the county acquired land on a barrier island where the park is situated. Despite promises to improve accessibility, the necessary access road was not built immediately. In 1961, Dr. Von D. Mizell and Eula Johnson led approximately 200 civil rights activists in wade-in protests at Las Olas Beach, which contributed to the desegregation of Broward’s beaches by 1962. The access road was completed in 1965.
Cultural Concerns and Local Reaction
The park, formerly known as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, was renamed in 2016 to honor the civil rights activists who fought for desegregation. However, the current proposal to install pickleball courts has sparked concerns among local residents. Earl Beneby, a local resident in his 70s, expressed apprehension that the new courts could disrupt the park’s cultural significance.
“It would change the culture,” he said, “We have people that are planning family reunions, now they would have to compete against the pickleball court crowd.”
Calls for Preservation and Public Meetings
Beneby emphasizes that the opposition is not a case of “NIMBYism” (Not In My Back Yard).
“We’re not refusing any upgrades or anything they would do to contribute to making it a better beach,” he said, “We welcome those changes, but let’s make it better. Let’s not change the culture.”
“With more emphasis on this being a historically Black beach, it could then bring more people to appreciate the beach,” he said, “More cultural-based events that could be more reminiscent of back in the day when black folks said this was our beach.”
Historian Emmanuel George supports this view, suggesting that the park could benefit from improvements that honor its historical context, rather than altering its character. The FDEP’s proposal, which includes the addition of pickleball courts and hotels in various parks across the state, has also drawn criticism from conservationists.
Upcoming Public Meetings
Public meetings to discuss these changes, initially scheduled for Tuesday, have been postponed until the week of September 2, with no specific dates provided.
News in Brief: Broward Park Faces Pickleball Backlash
Plans by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to introduce pickleball courts at Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Broward have sparked significant backlash from the local Black community. The park, historically known as Broward’s “Colored Beach,” is valued for its cultural significance stemming from the civil rights era. Critics argue that the proposed changes, including the addition of pickleball courts, could alter the park’s cultural heritage. Public meetings on the proposal have been postponed, with new dates to be announced.
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