Clicky Skip to Content

Pondhawk Natural Area is an urban oasis in Boca Raton with free entry

Pondhawk Natural Area is among the delightful areas of wilderness within the urban and suburban fabric of South Florida. It’s open to the public for free. It includes wetlands and a fun StoryWalk and is in Boca Raton.

For insider info, Lee Lietzke of Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) offers his perspective on Pondhawk, including what you’ll likely sniff, hear and see.

Photo/Palm Beach County Environmental Resources Management

“I …recommend traveling through the natural area at a leisurely pace,” Lietzke says. “Moving slowly and quietly will allow all the little details to soak in and increase the probability of observing wildlife.”

Sights, Sounds & Scents

Sights:  StoryWalk features pages of a storybook displayed along a path. StoryWalk was installed by Boca Raton Library and ERM.

Photo credit: Boca Public Library

Sounds: “Pondhawk Natural Area is an island of wilderness surrounded by a sea of urban development. ERM staff thoughtfully designed and installed the on-site public use facilities with the intention of providing visitors with a refuge from the clatter and noise of the surrounding metropolitan environs. So one pleasant thing to hear at Pondhawk is silence,” Lietzke says.  

Scents: “Silk bay, a distinctive tree endemic to peninsular Florida, is closely related to the species that provides bay leaves commonly used in the culinary arts,” according to Lietzke. “The leaves of silk bay have a pleasing, sweet aroma.”

Foliage

Lietzke says: “A distinctive plant community protected at Pondhawk Natural Area is scrub. … Simply put, scrub is Florida’s answer to the desert. The scrub habitat at Pondhawk Natural Area is home to many rare plant species including Florida rosemary, shell mound prickly pear cactus and coontie.”

Pondhawk includes eight acres of restored wetlands featuring sawgrass.

Photo & Featured Photo/Palm Beach County Environmental Resource Management

Wildlife

Lietzke says: “Pondhawk Natural Area provides habitat for numerous species of butterfly. Species regularly observed on-site include: gulf fritillary, white peacock, , zebra longwing, and ruddy daggerwing. In fall 2021, ERM partnered with the Boca Raton Library to install a butterfly garden near the entrance to the natural area. With the help of volunteers, more than 100 butterfly host and nectar plants were installed. This project demonstrated viability almost immediately as butterflies were observed utilizing the host plants during the initial planting event.

“A diverse array of bird species are commonly observed at Pondhawk Natural Area. The variety of habitat types present within the natural area provide food and shelter for diverse avian species including great blue heron, Pileated woodpecker and Ruby-throated hummingbird.

“Fortunate visitors to Pondhawk may observe the only tortoise species naturally found east of the Mississippi River, the gopher tortoise.  At Pondhawk Natural Area they are present in the high, dry scrub habitat where they construct their burrows and feed on low, grassy vegetation.” 

Selfies & Photo Ops

Lietzke recommends snapping photos from the observation platform overlooking the restored marsh.

Other Tips

Lietzke says: “Before entering the natural area I recommend stopping at the informational kiosk and picking up a trail guide. In addition to a very useful map, the trail guide provides information on the site’s history, context in the surrounding area and information on plants and animals.

“While there are many places at Pondhawk with overhead canopy, many public use areas are exposed to the sun. I recommend wearing a hat and using sunblock when on site. It’s also a good Idea to bring a bottle of water to stay hydrated.

“I also recommend traveling through the natural area at a leisurely pace. Moving slowly and quietly will allow all the little details to soak in and increase the probability of observing wildlife.”

Wonderful information. Thank you, Lee.

Information

Pondhawk is on the western side of Spanish River Library, 1501 Spanish River Boulevard, Boca Raton. Read other information on the website

More parks and natural areas in South Florida

Free & inexpensive things to do this weekend in South Florida

Sign up for the South Florida on the Cheap newsletter. Follow on Facebook and Instagram.

Other free and inexpensive things to do

Wednesday, October 4, 2023

AMC Theatres: 30% off daily before 4 p.m.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres

Free admission for Miami-Dade seniors with Golden Ticket

10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden

Food truck gathering at Pelican Harbor Marina

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Pelican Harbor Marina

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Free movie preview 'The Burial'

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | AMC Aventura

Trivia nights in Broward

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE

Comedy Night at Pub 52

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co., Miami-Dade

Comedy Night at Exit One Taproom

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Exit One Taproom, Miami-Dade

Thursday, October 5, 2023

AMC Theatres: 30% off daily before 4 p.m.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres

Book discussion at Lauderdale Lakes branch library

5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Lauderdale Lakes branch library

Wolfson Market & Movie, Miami

5:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus

Food Truck Thursdays at Highland Oaks Park

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Highland Oaks Park

Live music: Clematis by Night, West Palm Beach

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | West Palm Beach Waterfront

Night Market, Boca Raton

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Sanborn Square Park, Boca

Sips & Shorts by City Theatre at Pinecrest Gardens

6:30 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Pinecrest Gardens

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Live music at Doral Yard

7:00 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Trivia nights in Broward

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE

Live Music at VIVO Dolphin Mall

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dolphin Mall

The Moth Miami StorySLAM

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $15.00 | Sandrell Rivers Theater

FAU Symphony Orchestra, Boca Raton

7:00 pm | $10.00 | Florida Atlantic University Boca Raton

Friday, October 6, 2023

AMC Theatres: 30% off daily before 4 p.m.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres

Free film 'Fahrenheit 451' in Pompano

2:30 pm to 4:30 pm | FREE | Broward beach branch library

Free concert: First Friday @ 5, Boynton Beach

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Centennial Park, Boynton Beach

Food truck gathering at Tropical Park

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Tropical Park

Art After Dark Fridays; activities & times vary, WPB

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach

Art After Dark: Jazz Fridays, WPB

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach

Rock-n-Fall Festival, Royal Palm Beach

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Commons Park, Royal Palm Beach

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Free Coral Gables gallery night and free museum entry

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Coral Gables Museum

Oktoberfest in Oakland Park for $5

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Pastorius Park

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Jam on percussion for free

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | South Florida Center for Percussive Arts

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Salsa singer Melina Almodovar in concert

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | Sunrise city park

Free concert 'Naturally Diamond' tribute

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Coconut Creek community center

Live Music at VIVO Dolphin Mall

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dolphin Mall

Catskill Haunts Haunted House, Royal Palm Beach

7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $10.00 | Commons Park, Royal Palm Beach

Art After Dark: Jazz Friday at The Norton, WPB

7:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach

Art After Dark: Live performances every Friday at The Norton, WPB

7:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Norton Museum of Art, West Palm Beach

Seraphic Fire: The Art of Protest concert, Miami

7:00 pm | FREE | Corpus Christi Catholic Church, Miami

Live Music at Doral Yard

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

First Friday Art Walk, Delray

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Arts Garage, Delray Beach

Free outdoor films in Hollywood

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood ArtsPark

Saturday, October 7, 2023

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

Plantation Farmers Market

8:00 am to 12:00 am | FREE | Volunteer Park Plantation

AMC Theatres: 30% off daily before 4 p.m.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres

Gold Coast Museum free first Saturday

10:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Gold Coast Railroad Museum

Rock-n-Fall Festival, Royal Palm Beach

1:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Commons Park, Royal Palm Beach

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Oktoberfest in Oakland Park for $5

1:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Pastorius Park

Zun Zun Children's Festival

2:00 pm to 4:00 pm | $2.00 | Miami-Dade County Auditorium

Watching Movies With Film Series "The Birdcage"

5:00 pm to 7:30 pm | $10.00 | Bill Cosford Cinema

Free live music in Margate

6:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Margate sports complex

Cultural Saturdays at Dania Ponite

6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Oktoberfest in Hollywood

6:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $5.00-12.00 | German American Society of Greater Hollywood

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Trivia nights in Broward

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE

Live Music at VIVO Dolphin Mall

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dolphin Mall

Catskill Haunts Haunted House, Royal Palm Beach

7:00 pm to 11:00 pm | $10.00 | Commons Park, Royal Palm Beach

Zun Zun Children's Festival

7:00 pm | $2.00 | Miami-Dade County Auditorium

Seraphic Fire: The Art of Protest concert, Miami

7:30 pm | FREE | Black Archives Historic Lyric Theatre, Miami

Live Music at Doral Yard

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Discount late-night movies

11:30 pm to 2:00 am | $5.00 | Coral Gables Art Cinema

Sunday, October 8, 2023

Farmers markets & vendor fairs

FREE | Broward, Dade & greater Palm Beach

Tamarac Farmers Market

9:00 am to 12:00 am | FREE | Veterans Park

Las Olas Oceanside Park vendor market

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | FREE | Las Olas Oceanside Park

AMC Theatres: 30% off daily before 4 p.m.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres

Westerns & Black Cowboys film series

1:00 pm to 3:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Victory Black Box Theatre Fort Lauderdale

Sight & Sound Deep Cuts

1:00 pm to 3:30 pm | $5.00 | Bill Cosford Cinema

Oktoberfest in Oakland Park for $5

1:00 pm to 7:00 pm | $0-5.00 | Pastorius Park

Family Sundays at Dania Pointe

2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | FREE | Dania Pointe

Live entertainment at Dania Pointe

2:00 pm to 6:00 pm | Dania Pointe

Seraphic Fire: The Art of Protest concert, Homestead

3:00 pm | FREE | First United Methodist Church, Homestead

Tropical Sundays Live Music

5:00 pm to 8:00 pm | FREE | Doral Yard

Ocean Drive Promenade Music Series

6:00 pm to 7:30 pm | FREE | Ocean Drive Promenade, Miami Beach

Soulful Sundays concert in Pompano

6:00 pm to 9:00 pm | $10.00 | Ali Cultural Arts

Free music at Gulfstream in Hallandale

6:30 pm to 9:30 pm | FREE | Gulfstream Park Village

Free live music at Hollywood beach bandshell

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Hollywood beach bandshell

Live Music at VIVO Dolphin Mall

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Dolphin Mall

Comedy Night at Nightlife Brewing Co.

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Nightlife Brewing Co., Miami-Dade

Salsa dance class

9:00 pm | FREE | Ball & Chain

Monday, October 9, 2023

AMC Theatres: 30% off daily before 4 p.m.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres

Free Improv class every Monday in Palmetto Bay

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Palmetto Bay Library

Trivia nights in Broward

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE

Comedy Night at Sandbar Sports Grill

8:00 pm to 11:00 pm | FREE | Sandbar Sports Grill, Miami-Dade

Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Regal Theatres: Discounted movie tickets on Tuesdays

All Day | $5.00-7.00 | Regal Cinemas Multiple Locations

AMC Theatres: 30% off daily before 4 p.m.

9:00 am to 4:00 pm | Discounted | AMC Theatres

Tasty Tuesdays with Food Trucks

5:00 pm to 8:30 pm | FREE | Sunset Cove Amphitheater, Boca Raton

Food Trucks Tuesdays

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE | Haulover Beach Park

Food Truck Tuesdays at Haulover Park

5:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Haulover Beach Park

Free movie preview 'The Burial'

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | AMC Sunset Place

Free movie preview 'The Burial'

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm | FREE | Paragon Theaters Delray Beach

Trivia nights in Broward

7:00 pm to 10:00 pm | FREE

All Arts Open Mic Night, Delray

8:00 pm to 10:00 pm | $5.00-10.00 | Arts Garage, Delray Beach

Patti Roth

About Patti Roth

Patti Roth, the editor of Fort Lauderdale on the Cheap, scouts out state and national deals, discounts and coupons for our readers, finding the real deals and presenting them in an easy-to-read format. A veteran newspaper and magazine writer and a longtime South Florida resident, she has written for The Miami Herald, The Sun-Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Travel and Life, E Environmental Magazine, Dog Fancy, Cat Fancy, US Architecture and Earth911.com. Send your cheap tips to her at info@fortlauderdaleonthecheap.com.

Living on the CheapMiami on the Cheap is a member of Living on the Cheap, a network of websites published by frugalistas, journalists and consumer advocates. Find practical advice on saving money on groceries, travel and shopping, plus tips from our experts on how to live the good life for less at Living on the Cheap.

Living on the Cheap in the Media