Delray Beach's Treasure Trove: Beachgoers Uncover Hidden Gems at Anchor Park

A beach renourishment project's leftover rocks and shells become a public treasure hunt at Delray's Anchor Park.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Instead of sending the rocks, shells, and other debris leftover from a beach renourishment project to a landfill, the city of Delray Beach has created a public 'pick pile' at Anchor Park where beachgoers can search for unique and valuable finds. Dozens of treasure hunters have been flocking to the park, armed with shovels, gloves, and cushions, to sift through the piles and uncover hidden gems like rare seashells, shark teeth, and more.

Why it matters

This initiative by Delray Beach highlights a creative way to repurpose materials that would otherwise end up in a landfill, while also providing a fun and engaging activity for the local community. The treasure hunt has become a popular attraction, drawing both locals and visitors, and showcasing the city's commitment to sustainability and community engagement.

The details

The renourishment process extracts sand and other items from the ocean and transports it to shore, with specialized baskets separating the sand from larger materials like shells and rocks. Instead of discarding these leftovers, Delray Beach decided to offer the materials to shell enthusiasts and treasure hunters. The temporary pile, which has been replenished twice so far, has become a hub of activity, with people spending hours each day sifting through the rocks and shells in search of unique finds. Many have been sharing their discoveries on social media, showcasing the diverse array of seashells, shark teeth, and other treasures they've uncovered.

  • The public 'pick pile' at Anchor Park opened on February 6, 2026.
  • The pile has been replenished twice since its initial opening.

The players

Delray Beach

The city of Delray Beach, Florida, which created the public 'pick pile' at Anchor Park as a way to repurpose materials from a beach renourishment project.

Amanda Centrone

A 24-year-old Delray Beach resident who has visited the pile twice and plans to make a bathing suit rack out of the conch shells she has found.

Jerad Biegner

A fossil hunter and shell collector from Lantana, Florida, who has been visiting the temporary public shelling pile at Anchor Park.

Jim Neville

A 76-year-old New Jersey resident spending the week with his family in Delray Beach, who was watching his three grandchildren comb through the pile.

Gina Carter

The spokeswoman for the city of Delray Beach, who explained the renourishment process and the city's decision to offer the leftover materials to the public.

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What they’re saying

“This is so fun, they should do this all the time. A lot of them are crushed, but they're all unique.”

— Amanda Centrone

“As long as we don't find any human bones.”

— Jim Neville

What’s next

The public 'pick pile' at Anchor Park will remain open from sunrise to sunset every day, while supplies last.

The takeaway

Delray Beach's creative repurposing of materials from a beach renourishment project has turned into a popular community activity, providing a fun and engaging way for locals and visitors to uncover hidden treasures while promoting sustainability and environmental stewardship.