Marine Science Center Coming To Deerfield Beach’s Sullivan Park By 2026
DEERFIELD BEACH, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2025) — A new marine science center is coming to the Intracoastal in Deerfield Beach, backed by a partnership between the Museum of Discovery and Science and the Deerfield Beach Community Redevelopment Agency.
The 10,000-square-foot center is planned for Sullivan Park, where it will anchor the next phase of the city’s ongoing push to remake the Cove area as a family-friendly, eco-tourism destination. The facility will be built around a “Sawgrass to Seagrass” theme, tying together South Florida’s inland wetlands and coastal waters in one continuous story for visitors.
Under the deal, the Deerfield Beach CRA will fund the design and construction of the building, while the Museum of Discovery and Science — better known to many families as MODS — will handle exhibit design, educational programming and day-to-day visitor engagement. The museum said the project will expand its role as Broward’s Hub for Resilience Education and push its outreach deeper into North Broward and Palm Beach County through existing initiatives like its MODS STEMobile fleet.
MODS was tapped for the partnership based on its track record in environmental and science education, including regional, state and national programs. The Fort Lauderdale-based museum has been designated Broward’s Hub for Resilience Education by the Community Foundation of Broward and participates in “Caretakers of Wonder,” a national effort to boost environmental literacy in children from birth to age 8. It also runs the MODS STEMobile, which brings more than 60,000 free and low-cost science, technology, engineering and math programs to schools and communities each year, according to the museum’s materials on mods.org.
Other MODS programs, such as the Visit Lauderdale Science Festival and the EcoExplorers internship that helps high school students build workforce skills, are expected to tie into the new Deerfield Beach site and its year-round schedule of STEM programming.
The “Sawgrass to Seagrass” concept will be at the heart of the new center. Plans call for hands-on exhibits and activities that walk visitors through how wetlands and seagrass meadows support water quality, wildlife habitat and climate resilience. The goal, the partners say, is not only to explain those systems but also to give families practical tools for conservation and everyday environmental stewardship.
“The Museum of Discovery and Science is thrilled to partner with the City of Deerfield Beach to develop and bring this cutting-edge marine science center to both residents and tourists,” said Joseph P. Cox, president and CEO of MODS, in an announcement shared by the museum on mods.org. “After extensive discussions, it was clear that our shared vision to educate, raise awareness and preserve our unique ecological environments made this partnership the perfect opportunity to further MODS’ mission of connecting people to inspiring science.”
For Deerfield Beach, the marine science center is tied directly to the larger Sullivan Park and Cove area vision. City officials describe the project as the next step in creating a vibrant urban park that pulls families from across South Florida while also appealing to eco-tourists looking for marine-focused experiences.
As part of that plan, the DBCRA has acquired the former Deerfield Beach Chamber of Commerce building at Sullivan Park. That structure will be converted into the new science center, giving the project a prominent waterfront footprint and, city leaders hope, further solidifying Deerfield Beach’s identity as a nautical destination.
“Having the Museum of Discovery and Science in Deerfield Beach is a huge win for our City as we enhance our identity as a nautical destination,” Mayor Bill Ganz said in the announcement. “We’re fortunate that the MODS board of directors shares our vision of creating a children’s marine science center in Deerfield Beach and is allowing us to tap MODS staff for their expertise in making it happen. As someone whose seen this project from an idea on the back of a napkin to where we are today, I am very proud of this milestone.”
City leaders on the CRA Board framed the partnership as a long-term investment in education and the local economy.
“‘Go Bold’ has been my call to action for the City of Deerfield Beach,” Vice Mayor Todd Drosky said. “This partnership with the renowned Museum of Discovery and Science is a great example of our city going bold to create something special we’ll be able to enjoy for years to come!”
District 1 Commissioner Michael Hudak said the deal checks off a goal he has had since taking office. “Ever since becoming commissioner, one of my goals was to partner with organizations that share our goals,” Hudak said. “MODS is a first-class organization with a shared goal of educating our community’s youth for years to come.”
The CRA Board of Directors has also highlighted the project’s potential impact on future generations as one of the key reasons for moving ahead with the partnership.
The marine science center at Sullivan Park is expected to open to the public in summer 2026, according to the city and MODS.
For more information about the project, residents can contact the Deerfield Beach CRA at 954-480-4262. Details about the Museum of Discovery and Science and its programs are available at mods.org.
Great but there is no parking in that area. It will limit parking even more in the cove area.