Phil Foster Park (Blue Heron Bridge)

Phil Foster Park sits on an island under the Blue Heron Bridge in the Lake Worth Lagoon, with a guarded swim beach and a two-acre snorkel trail of limestone boulders and reef modules in 6 to 10 feet of water. Divers and snorkelers come for the small marine life. Go around slack high tide, when the current eases, and stay inside the swim area away from boats.

Directions

Photo: Florida Guidebook from Florida, USA · CC BY 2.0

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Latest reading · SwimScore 81/100 (Get in) for a typical swimmer: air 27°C, wind 13 km/h, waves 0.6 m, UV 1. Updated 23 Sept, 22:00 UTC.

Know before you go

Best conditions: Around slack high tide, when the current eases.
Getting in: Palm Beach County park at 900 E. Blue Heron Blvd.; the beach is open sunrise to sunset.
Parking & transport: 206 regular spaces and 127 boat-trailer spaces; only boat trailers need a permit ($15 daily).
Lifeguards: The county lists a guarded swimming area; swim only when the lifeguard's condition flag is flying.
Water quality: Florida Department of Health Healthy Beaches Program samples the 'Phil Foster Park' site for enterococci bacteria every 1–2 weeks depending on county (Good 0–35, Moderate 36–70, Poor 71+ per 100 mL); an advisory is issued when a sample and its resample both exceed 70.
Season: Year-round.
Who swims here: The Blue Heron Bridge area is internationally recognized by scientists, scuba divers, underwater photographers and snorkelers for its marine life; the county's snorkel trail covers two acres in 6 to 10 feet of water.
Watch for: Boat traffic nearby; boaters must stay out of the designated swimming area and observe Boating Safety Zone speeds
Tidal current in the Intracoastal Waterway; snorkel and dive at slack tide
Facilities: Restrooms · Outdoor showers · Guarded swimming area · Fishing pier (sunrise to 10 p.m.) · Boat ramps