Oceanfront Park — Attraction in Jacksonville Beach

Ocean Park at Jacksonville Beach: A Little Park with Local Wildlife Fun Facts

Introduction: Nestled along the picturesque coastline of Jacksonville Beach, Ocean Park stands as a hidden gem for nature enthusiasts and beachgoers alike. This little park not only offers stunning ocean views and sandy shores but also provides a unique opportunity to encounter local wildlife. In this essay, we will explore the wonders of Ocean Park and delve into some fascinating fun facts about the wildlife that calls this place home.

The Park's Biodiversity: Ocean Park boasts an impressive array of wildlife, showcasing the rich biodiversity of the Jacksonville Beach area. From the moment you step foot in the park, you may encounter a variety of bird species, including seagulls, pelicans, and sandpipers. These feathered creatures gracefully soar through the sky, adding a touch of elegance to the coastal landscape.

The Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins: One of the most enchanting sights at Ocean Park is the presence of Atlantic bottlenose dolphins. These intelligent and playful marine mammals can often be spotted swimming and leaping through the waves just off the coast. Their acrobatic displays never fail to captivate visitors, leaving them in awe of the wonders of the ocean.

Sea Turtles Nesting Grounds: Ocean Park serves as a vital nesting ground for endangered sea turtles, including the loggerhead, green, and leatherback species. These magnificent creatures return to the beach each year to lay their eggs, ensuring the survival of their species. Witnessing the nesting process or the hatching of baby sea turtles is a truly remarkable experience that Ocean Park offers to lucky visitors.

The Intriguing Ghost Crab: While strolling along the sandy shores of Ocean Park, keep an eye out for the elusive ghost crab. These small, nocturnal creatures are known for their pale coloration and swift movements. Ghost crabs are fascinating to observe as they scuttle across the beach, digging burrows and scavenging for food. Their ability to blend seamlessly with the sand makes them a true marvel of nature.

The Resilient Beach Dune Plants: Ocean Park is not only home to captivating wildlife but also showcases a variety of beach dune plants that play a crucial role in maintaining the coastal ecosystem. These resilient plants, such as sea oats and dune sunflowers, help stabilize the sand dunes, preventing erosion and providing a habitat for numerous species. Their ability to thrive in harsh coastal conditions is a testament to the...

We used to live about 400 feet from Ocean Park at Jacksonville, Bch. On 6th ave south. For the first 7 years of my granddaughters life, when she was living with us, I used to practically take her over there every other day. She use to love playing on the cement sea animals at the top of the sidewalk coming from the parking area. There's a snake, a turtle, a seal, and some other animals there. But she used to love playing on those animals and then it was the white sand in the volleyball court and the eskimo monkey bars. Many, many memories there. We moved up to Ga, and my Granddaughter is now 11 and we always talk about the memories. Ocean Park used to have a pretty bad problem with the transients there, before we moved. The police would regularly patrol the parking lot and the park itself. But the transients would go to the park and drink ever since the park was built and back when the Jax Bch Pier was there. The transients have always plagued that area, even though the police patrolled the area on a regular basis and when people like myself, would call them. My granddaughter used to love to play around the statue of the boy riding the dolfin in the center of the park. I have hundreds of photos from different times of the year, spanning 7 years. For quite a while I was noticing around the backside of that sculpture ( seaside of that sculpture) real nasty stains down on the concrete and had no idea, of what could be causing it. Since we lived in the center of the block on 6th ave south, I took a spray bottle of Clorox bleach and started spraying the backside of that sculpture on the concrete. It was starting to bleach whatever it was, until the weekends would come. Well one evening we were at the park at a picnic table on the parking lot side of the park. As we were sitting there, the transients would go behind the sculpture and pee on the side of the base of that sculpture. It really angered me, once I realized what was causing all of the discoloration on the base of that sculpture and even in a higher area on the sculpture, but it made me to start patrolling that part of the park and calling the bch police, every time that I saw any transients drinking there. After many calls to the police dept. ( almost every night and at different times in the night ) the police dept. Started patrolling the park on a regular basis without me having to call them. But yes, many great memories of me taking my granddaughter there over the years. Children...

Love coming here, to watch the sunrise or sunset, walking in the 'golf course style grass, barefeet, spungy tingling, and rejuvenating. Then, if you're really feeling optimistic, take a stroll on the beach, barefoot in the sand, counting a handful or more turtle nests. Just last week I was at the park, right after sunset, next thing I see; a bright fireball like glow erupting from what appeared the black abyss of the ocean meeting darkness.....It was memorizing. Not sure if the park is just tranquil or if Jax Beach is; regardless, spend time here at the park, learn about the turtles and the negative impact development has on the species. Light pollution is a real thing, you read about its effect off plaques in an oval-shaped walkabout with a beautiful Dolphin sculpture in the middle of the feild......Words do no justice to the beauty of...