"It’s a beautiful project but not the right location."
BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — After initial excitement about the idea, plans to build the proposed Boca Surf Park in Boca Raton’s new North Park have been canceled following strong opposition from residents.
Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District Commissioner Bob Rollins made the motion to stop the project, saying he could not support moving forward with it in the Boca Teeca neighborhood.
“I’m uncomfortable moving forward,” Rollins said. “It’s a beautiful project but not the right location. The folks who live in that neighborhood are the most vociferous.”
His remarks drew screams and loud applause from the crowd gathered at the district’s meeting Monday night. The motion ended consideration of the 18-plus acre wave park proposal, halting the process instead of allowing developers to continue refining their plans.
The proposers had just finished their latest presentation, which included a video and PowerPoint showing a smaller footprint and additional landscape buffers from nearby homes. They did not comment after the vote.
The board’s decision was not unanimous. Although the surf park had previously been ranked first among proposals under review, the motion to abandon it passed on a 3-2 vote. Commissioner Steve Engel supported the motion, saying he would not want a surf park in his backyard either. Commissioner Susan Vogelgesang agreed, citing many residents’ emails about the project’s potential impact on quality of life and property values.
Commissioner Craig Ehrnst opposed the decision, saying the board should have allowed the planning process to continue.
“This is a huge investment for these people and you are walking away from it. I’m disappointed,” Ehrnst said about the $60 million project, which would have provided a regular return for the district without requiring district investment.
Commission Chair Erin Wright also voted no, saying, “It’s very early in the process to do that.” The district’s legal counsel confirmed that the decision to stop the project would be final.
More than 30 people spoke during public comment before the vote, both for and against the surf park. One speaker cited a deed restriction requiring the property to remain a golf course in perpetuity, warning the district would face lawsuits if it attempted to use the land for another purpose.
The district purchased the Ocean Breeze Golf Course property in 2018, originally planning to replace it with a public golf course. Those plans changed after the City of Boca Raton received the nearby Boca Raton Golf & Racquet Club as a gift for public use. Current potential plans for North Park now include public golf.
The more than four-hour district meeting took place at the Willow Theatre in Sugar Sand Park, a larger venue than the district’s board room, as discussions about the surf park and a new soccer field complex drew large crowds.
