Residents and visitors to Flagler County can now enjoy paddle boarding at three of its parks – Herschel King, Bings Landing, and River to Sea Preserve – without the hassle of packing up equipment. Kiosks with four boards, paddles, and life preservers make the equipment easily accessible at these parks.

“Residents are seeking more access to the water, and we are always looking for ways to add amenities to our parks facilities. We were provided with a very good opportunity by company called PADL out of Key Biscayne,” said County Administrator Heidi Petito. “They work with other counties and state parks, with kiosks throughout the State of Florida.”

There is a cost to rent paddle boards from these self-serve kiosks, typically $25 per hour. The website, www.padl.co, provides information about how to download its app (available at the Apple App Store and Google Play), as well as how-to videos about “How to PADL” – renting, riding, and ending the rental.

“You do have to download the app to rent,” said Park Manager Frank Barbuti. “The kiosks have everything you need to paddle board out of these three parks. Each park has one kiosk except River to Sea, which has two.”

The website also has an FAQ (frequently asked questions) page:

  • Renters must be 18 years old to ride
  • Hours are sunrise to sunset or 6 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. as weather permits
  • Renters are only responsible for equipment theft if they failed to lock it up after use and it is subsequently taken.
  • The boards weigh about 28 pounds
  • Riders must weigh no more than 250 pounds
  • No reservations are taken – first come, first served only
  • The PADL app will store the payment method and process payments for rides