Broward County - Parks and Recreation Division

Boating in Broward

Even the family pets enjoy a boat ride now and then.

With more than 300 miles of navigable waterways, it’s not surprising that boating is one of the most popular recreational activities in Broward County – the Greater Fort Lauderdale area, after all, is commonly known as the “Venice of America.” Nor is it surprising that a lot of those navigable waterways are found in Broward County Parks. Whether you want to launch your boat into the edge of the Everglades at Markham Park, pull into a slip for a leisurely picnic at Boaters Park, or pedal your way around a lake in a boat shaped like an oversized swan at T.Y. Park, there’s a park to fit your needs. Two of our parks, Boaters Park and Deerfield Island Park, are accessible only by boat.

Boat ramps are available at the following parks:
Markham Park
Quiet Waters Park
Tradewinds Park
West Lake Park

For a comprehenisve list of boat ramps in South Florida, click here.

Boat docks are found at these parks:
Boaters Park
Deerfield Island Park
West Lake Park (no fossil-fueled boats allowed)

Boat rentals are offered at these parks:
Central Broward Regional Park T.Y. Park has a swan boat for rental.
Markham Park
Plantation Heritage Park
Tradewinds Park
Tree Tops Park
T.Y. Park
Quiet Waters Park
West Lake Park

Contact the park of your choice to find out what kinds of boats are available. Selections range from canoes and kayaks to paddleboats and johnboats. The big swan-shaped boats (see photo) are available only at T.Y. Park.

Water-Skiing and Wakeboarding
Broward Ski & Wakeboard School at C.B. Smith Park offers lessons and rides on a private freshwater lake. All forms of water-skiing, wakeboarding, slalom kneeboarding, barefoot skiing, and tubing are taught, using a Malibu ski boat with wakeboard tower, wedge, perfect pass, and training boom. All equipment is supplied, or you can bring your own. Open weekday afternoons and all day Saturdays and Sundays year round. Party packages and summer camp specials are also available. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call instructor Mike Tolzmann at 954-292-3953, or visit www.browardski.com.

Personal wsatercraft are allowed on one lake within Markham Park

Personal Watercraft Area
This 26-acre lake at Markham Park, the only area in the County park system open to motorized personal watercraft such as Jet Skis and WaveRunners, is open seasonally on weekends and holidays from mid-March through the end of October. A launching fee is required. Session times run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., noon to 3 p.m., and 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. Call the park at 954-389-2000 for further information.