Riverbend Park Has Something for Everyone

Riverbend Park is an oasis of natural beauty located along Florida’s first nationally designated “Wild and Scenic River”, the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River. With a unique blend of picturesque natural resources and important cultural and historical sites, this special place is considered by many to be the “jewel” of the Palm Beach County park system. Five miles of waterways and fifteen miles of trails and access roads have been carved into over 680 acres of marsh and subtropical terrain making the park a great place for hiking, bicycling, canoeing and kayaking.

History abounds at Riverbend Park. Duirng 1838, two Seminole War battles were fought within Riverbend Park. The first occurred on January 15th, when Lt. Powell led sailors and regular Army units to engage a band of Seminole Indians. Powell’s troops were soundly defeated and ran for their lives. Nine days later, General Jessup arrived with 1,600 soldiers and the defeated the Seminole Indians, at Riverbend Park, marking the end of the Second Seminole War.

The property that makes up Riverbend Park was originally developed for citrus production and the first citrus grove was established in 1882. Citrus from this property was entered into the first World’s Fair in Chicago. In the 1950's, the property was used for cattle grazing. By the 1970's, the property was opened for tourism and housed a petting zoo and tram tours.

Riverbend Park was named after the Riverbend Mobile Home Park, which was established in the early 1970's. Palm Beach County purchased the original 178 acre parcel in 1978 for $1.9 million. In 1991, under a lease agreement with the South Florida Water Management District, the park expanded to 684 acres with the addition of the 80.7 Gildan Tract and the 422.27 acre Reese Tract. These properties were purchased under the State’s Save Our Rivers land Acquisition Program for $8,069,709.

In 1998, the County’s Parks and Recreation Department began the restoration of the Reese property by removing exotic plants and restoring the original hydrology of the property. The park officially opened on October 1, 2005. Riverbend Park is open Wednesday through Sunday from sunrise to sunset.

There is no better way to experience Riverbend Park than to see it from the water. The Park provides five miles of waterways that slowly wind through 680 acres of stunning subtropical forests, wetlands and meadows. Fishing is permitted in designated areas of the park, however, for your safety, swimming and wading are prohibited, due to the presence of alligators. In addition, designated parking areas and trails for equestrian use are being developed for the Park.

Archaeological and historical assessments of the properties show a continuum of human use. Early Archaic peoples, Seminole Indians and pioneer families have all left their mark on the land. With so much to offer, it is the perfect escape for an outdoor adventure.

As always, don’t hesitate to contact my office at 355-2201 or kmarcus@pbcgov.com if you have questions of concerns on County issues.