City News Flash: Lake DeFuniak Open for Public Swimming

Lake DeFuniak reopens for public swimming for the 2022 season today and ends Sept. 30. There is a designated swim area between the boat ramp of the Chautauqua Hall of Brotherhood to the Amphitheatre for public swimming between the hours of 8 a.m. to sunset Monday through Saturday, and Sunday from 12:30 p.m. to sunset. 

“We’re excited to reopen the lake to our residents and visitors, and very appreciative to Mr. Mark Bird for the pylons,” said DeFuniak Springs City Manager Robert Thompson. “We welcome visitors to come spend the day in our great city and enjoy the lake.”

The City of DeFuniak Springs Public Works Maintenance Division prepared the lake grounds and coordinated the pylon installation. DeFuniak Springs native Mark Bird donated and installed the pylons needed to secure the lake for swimming. Signs are posted around the lake to swim at your own risk. Boating, kayaking, canoeing, and fishing will continue but not within the designated swimming area which extends out to approximately 75 feet from the shoreline.

“I love my town and I’ve been to every festival on the lake since I was born so it was a great way to give back to my community,” said Bird owner of Aquatech, a marine contractor that builds docks and sea walls. “I want to thank the city manager for the opportunity to serve my community in this way.”

Bird said he embedded the pylons 8 feet deep into lake. The swimming area is 12-15 feet deep with a natural grade. Pylons are marine graded and treated poles that are buried in the water to connect ropes with buoys to show the swimming area and should last 20 years before needing replacement. 

“There are only three natural lakes and ours is one of the perfectly round God-made bodies of water. That’s why it was a pleasure to work on this project,” said Bird.