The parks bond totals $200 million and includes four signature projects involving Holiday Park, Joseph Carter Park, Lockhart Stadium and a new park above Federal Highway at the Kinney Tunnel.
We have not made a major investment in our park system since 1993.
If voters approve the bond, we would upgrade and modernize all park buildings, enhance lighting throughout the parks to improve visibility and safety, and make enhancements to signage and landscaping. Parks will be redesigned to make the best use of the available land, and there are even plans to utilize rooftop areas as recreation space.
We will add shade structures to outdoor courts to improve their use year-around. All parks will be brought into compliance with disability standards. Wellness opportunities will be expanded with more outdoor exercise stations and more walking and jogging trails.
We will begin new initiatives, such as LauderTrail — a network of trails for both pedestrians and bicyclists on existing right-of-way throughout the city. We also will build more dog parks and partner with the School District to open school property during non-school hours with upgrades to the recreational options there.
Money would also be set aside to try to acquire new park sites in underserved areas.
Our parks staff and Parks & Recreation Advisory Board have been working on plans, and here are some examples of what they’ve come up with: a new community center and pool building addition at Bass Park, a playground replacement at Bayview Park, boat slip improvements at Cooleys Landing Marina, a water playground replacement at Croissant Park, synthetic turf for multi-use fields at Hardy Park and a rebuild of Floyd Hull Stadium.
Other proposals are a crew boathouse at George English Park, improved softball concessions at Mills Pond Park, a kayak launch at North Fork Park, pool renovations at Riverland Park, a community center at Shirley Small Park, a nature center at Snyder Park along with pavilion upgrades, a fishing pier at Sweeting Park, and a boardwalk extension at Warbler Wetlands.
The main focus would be the four signature projects.
At Holiday Park, money would be spent on a water playground, sand volleyball courts with lights, expanded walking trails, a parking garage, synthetic turf for the sports fields, a tennis court renovation, security lighting and a destination playground. At Joseph Carter Park, we’d build a new community center, install synthetic turf and security lighting and also create a destination playground there.
The tunnel top park has been long discussed as a way to provide additional open space along Las Olas Boulevard. By expanding the deck over Federal Highway’s tunnel under the New River, we’d have additional plaza area across from the Riverside Hotel and Stranahan House. The final project would be an overhaul of Lockhart Stadium including rehabilitating the stadium for football and soccer use, adding synthetic turf and building out the surrounding area with such amenities as walking trials.