For the second year in a row, the City of Delray Beach is the proud recipient of the prestigious Blue Flag Award. Delray Beach Municipal Beach is one of two Blue Flag designations awarded to beaches located in the continental United States. The Blue Flag international jury honored the municipal beach again this year, between Casuarina Road and Laing Street, the coveted, international designation for meeting a series of stringent environmental, educational, safety, and accessibility criteria.

The Blue Flag will fly over Delray Beach, at the intersection of A1A and Atlantic Avenue, from May 8 to April 30, 2025. It was raised during a brief ceremony, which the public and media attended.

 

“I am so grateful that our beach has been recognized again as a prominent Blue Flag designation,” said Delray Beach Public Works Director Missie Barletto. “This world-class award will be enjoyed by our residents and visitors alike.”

Westward Beach in California is the other Blue Flag USA program recipient in the continental United States. The international award program has existed for 36 years and is headquartered in Copenhagen, Denmark. Pilot programs in the continental United States began in 2021, with the first beaches awarded in 2023, due to the relentless efforts of the national jury, recipients, and the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA).

“Our sites have worked hard for several months to implement and maintain more than 30 diverse criteria to achieve award status. Their staff and communities can raise their flags with pride for going above and beyond U.S. standards to receive international recognition for sustainable management practices,” said Annie Mercer, program coordinator for the ASBPA.

Sites in the Blue Flag USA program participate in four stages of engagement between the host location and the USA program: interest, candidate, applicant, and award. Applications for the Blue Flag USA program open in September and close in December, however participants work diligently prior to and during submission, providing water quality sample history, coordinating activities, and much more. Finally, awards are issued to sites by the international jury each year and audited by staff. Delray Beach first applied in 2022. Learn more about the program at blueflag.us

PDF Brochure: Delray Beach Blue Flag Brochure

Contact Info:

International Contact Information

National Operator Contact Information

American Shore and Beach Preservation Association
Blueflagusa@asbpa.org, www.Blueflag.us

Local Contact Information

Public Works Department
fuentesc@mydelraybeach.com, 561-243-7196