DR. VON D. MIZELL - EULA JOHNSON STATE PARK

By  Mike Miller November 3, 2025

Dr. Von D. Mizell – Eula Johnson State Park covers 309 acres in Dania Beach, Florida. It lies on the barrier island south of Port Everglades Inlet, near Fort Lauderdale.

The park fronts 2.5 miles of Atlantic beach. The Intracoastal Waterway borders its west side. It was originally created in 1946 as a segregated beach for Black residents.

Renaming occurred in 2016 to honor civil rights leaders Dr. Von D. Mizell and Eula Johnson. The site protects Broward County's last undeveloped coastal ecosystem.

You can walk on trails that meander through beautiful coastal hammocks, and use boat ramps to launch a boat or kayak.

Dr. Von D. Mizell - Eula Johnson State Park boaters

Segregation denied Black residents public beaches in the 1940s during the height of Jim Crow laws in Florida.

Dr. Von D. Mizell, who founded the Broward County NAACP in 1956, petitioned the county in 1946 for a dedicated beach.  In response, officials designated this remote strip as the "colored beach." It was only accessible by boat until 1965.

Eula Johnson served as the first female president of the Fort Lauderdale NAACP from 1959 to 1967. She organized protests against Jim Crow laws.

On July 4, 1961, Mizell and Johnson led a "wade-in" at a whites-only beach. Over 200 participants entered the water. Police arrested several.

The action sparked national coverage. It pressured the county to desegregate all beaches in 1962.

The state acquired the land in 1973 as John U. Lloyd Beach State Park. The 2016 rename recognized Mizell and Johnson's roles in ending beach segregation.

The park is at 6503 North Ocean Drive, Dania Beach, FL 33004. It sits off State Road A1A. Take Interstate 95 to Sheridan Street, exit 21, then head east.

It is open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset when the gates close. Parking is in lots near the entrance or the boat ramps.

There is a 2.5-mile paved multiuse trail for walking as well as several short nature trails. You can swim or sunbathe on the beach, and there are seven pavilions for picnicking.

Boats up to 36 feet long can be launched from two ramps. Snook and tarpon make for some prime fishing, and you may spot manatees and a variety of birds.

You can paddle kayaks through Whiskey Creek, and gear is available for rent at Whiskey Creek Hideout on site. 

Keep pets on leashes no longer than 6 feet and keep them off the beach. No alcohol is allowed on the sand. Check their website for seasonal closures.

• Dania Beach Erojacks reef draws scuba divers and snorkelers with its shore access. 

• Whiskey Creek serves as a manatee sanctuary. 

• The park is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail; hosts migratory species year-round. 

• Sea grapes produce white-pink flowers from November to May. 

• Guided turtle walks occur during nesting season at night. 

• Early visitors crossed by ferry before the 1965 road link. 

• The park borders cruise ship traffic at Port Everglades. 

MIZELL - JOHNSON STATE PARK WEBSITE

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