Charnow Park sits right where Connecticut Street meets the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, giving families a shaded, grassy landing pad steps from the sand. It draws parents with young kids, sunburned beachgoers looking for a break, and anyone craving ocean views without paying for a resort chair.
The centerpiece is a splash fountain that cycles through jets and sprays, built to keep toddlers and grade-schoolers cool between beach runs. Two separate playgrounds split by age group use soft artificial turf underfoot instead of mulch or sand, which cuts down on scraped knees and tracked-in debris. Four picnic pavilions plus a newer entertainment pavilion with a pergola give extended families and birthday parties a spot to post up for the day, and mature shade trees keep much of the lawn tolerable even at midday. Paddleball courts next door, dating back to the 1930s, draw a regular crowd of local players and add some texture beyond the playground scene.
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Arrive before 10 a.m. on weekends to grab a pavilion before families claim them for the day; reservations are available through the city’s parks department for guaranteed spots. Weekday mornings are quietest. Parking along Connecticut Street and nearby beach lots fills fast in season, so walking or biking the Broadwalk in from a nearby hotel is the easier route. The park connects directly to Hollywood Beach’s restaurants and shops to the south, making it simple to pair a splash-fountain stop with lunch nearby.
