Parks, Our Future - Park Land Development and Preservation
Acquisition of Future Park Lands Assures the City of a Green Future
The City of Fort Lauderdale has been fortunate that much of the park land acquired over the past six years has been funded through the 2000 Broward County Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond Program. The concept of the bond program is consistent with the City’s park land acquisition and management goals as outlined in the City of Fort Lauderdale Comprehensive Plan, Future Land Use Element, and Policy 4.1.5 of the Recreation and Open Space Element, which is to preserve ecologically and historically important lands from development in areas of Fort Lauderdale characterized by intense urban development and almost complete loss of open space.
More specifically, objectives of the future park projects are: 1) to preserve disturbed vegetative communities that are extremely important to the City and Broward County in the preservation of natural resources; 2) to provide additional open space to the residents of the City of Fort Lauderdale, thereby maintaining the City Level of Service (LOS) Standard of 3 acres/1,000 residents; 3) to provide an opportunity for passive recreation which would meet the needs of less mobile residents (young children, elderly); 4) to provide an important environmental educational opportunity; 5) to reclaim the rundown and vacant lot areas; and 7) to connect the new park sites to other parks through bikeways, bike-friendly roads, and developed green and blueways.
Future Parks and Facilities
Ann Herman Park - 1760 SW 29th Avenue
The future one-acre Ann Herman Park is located in the Chula Vista Isles neighborhood. The purpose of the project is to preserve and reclaim one acre of disturbed vacant land by providing greater outdoor recreation opportunities to the public. Public access to the water in this area is also rare and the acquisition and redevelopment of this site will provide greater water access for the public. The site is at present a cleared vacant lot containing approximately 130 feet of sea-walled shoreline adjacent to the Chula Vista Canal, which travels out to the South Fork of the New River.
Coontie Hatchee Park - 1116 SW 15th Avenue
The future 2.6-acre Coontie Hatchee Park is located in the Riverside Park neighborhood and has approximately 200 feet of sea-walled shoreline. The purpose of the project is to preserve 2.6 acres of the remnant pine flatwood community while providing outdoor recreation opportunities to the public. Public access to the water in this area is very rare and the acquisition and development of this site will provide much needed water access for the public.
The site will ultimately be maintained as conservation land, preserving the native plant communities and mainly passive recreation opportunities. The recreational objectives will be achieved by allowing activities that do not interfere with the protection of the natural and historic resources of the Project Site.
Cypress Creek Sand Pine Preserve - NE corner of Cypress Creek and NW 21st Avenue
The City acquired the Cypress Creek Sand Pine Preserve conservation site in May 2006; it is an 8.15-acre sand pine scrub. The site will be developed and maintained by the City as a conservation preserve with passive recreational opportunities for the public.
Dolphin Isles Park - 2125 NE 33rd Avenue
This site is approximately a quarter of an acre neighborhood property located in the Dolphin Isles neighborhood. The site was acquired by the city in March of 2006. The site was developed and currently contains a duplex. The City will remove the structure and develop the site as a small neighborhood park for the Dolphin Isles community.
Esterre Davis Wright Park - 1500 Block of SW 23rd Street
A future one-acre park site in the River Oaks neighborhood, the park site was acquired through an agreement with the Georgian Oaks developer. Amenities for the park will include a playground, parking and a walking trail.
Flagler Heights Park - East of NE 3 Avenue & south of NE 6th Street
The purchase of the properties making up this one-acre future Flagler Heights Park site was completed in August 2005. Securing the funding for the project was a collaborative effort between Broward County, the City of Fort Lauderdale and the City of Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Authority. It is planned that the site will be landscaped with native plants and provide park benches, a picnic area and a small playground.
Florence Hardy Park Addition - 600 SE 3rd Avenue
The Florence Hardy Park Addition was funded through a Florida Communities Trust Grant, the County Bond and City of Fort Lauderdale funds. Some of the amenities that will be included on the site are a small and medium picnic pavilion, a children's inclusive playground, basketball court, sand volleyball court, half-mile trail with three fitness stations that will meander through a native plant garden.
Harbordale Park - South of SE 17th Street on the west side of Miami Road
The future Harbordale Park is a one-acre neighborhood park site that consists of developed and vacant property with the primary development being multi-family uses. The acquisition of this property has greatly added to the park inventory/development in the southeast part of the City. The City intends to develop the site as a neighborhood park.
Mills Pond Park Addition
The Mills Pond addition project conservation site is 23 acres of bottomland forest, strand swamp, and hydric hammock located west of Powerline Road, south of Oakland Park Boulevard, and east of Interstate 95. Broward County is the current owner of the project site and the County will retain ownership in perpetuity. The County has a current management agreement with the City, which provides that the City will manage the site once the County completes the restoration and the physical improvements to the site. It will be managed by the City as a natural area with some passive recreation.
North Fork Riverfront Park - North of Broward Boulevard on NW 18th Avenue
The 2-acre future North Fork Riverfront Park property contains a mangrove and pond apple riparian swamp habitat suitable for supporting the endangered Florida manatee and several birds listed as Species of Special concern. The site is located on the North Fork of the New River on NW 18th Avenue just north of Broward Boulevard in an industrial zoned area. The site contains over 550 feet of frontage along the New River.
The site will provide public access to the North Fork of the New River. Plans for the park site include property clean up, wetland restoration, fencing, interpretive signage, picnic areas, catwalk and a sandy beach canoe/kayak landing.
Sailboat Bend Preserve - South of Broward Boulevard & Middle St., west of SW 14th Avenue
The preserve of 1.27 acres of live oak hammock is the future site for the Sailboat Bend Preserve Park located adjacent to the Argyle Canal just south of Broward Blvd. and Middle Street west of SW 14th Ave. At least 30% of the property will be landscaped with native plant material, and the parkland will be developed as a passive recreational area with minimal impact to the natural resources onsite.
"Bill" Keith Preserve - New River at SW 17th Street and SW 18th Avenue
The 3.4 acres of undeveloped property located along the north shore of the New River at SW 17 Street and SW 18 Avenue is the future Bill Keith Preserve site. It is a waterfront property containing the remains of a cypress swamp that is still tidally connected to the South Fork New River.
Warbler Wetlands - SW corner of NW 21 Avenue and NW 49 Street
The Warbler Wetlands is a 6.2 acre conservation site, which will be managed and developed by the City. The overall management priority will be protection, enhancement, and interpretation as an ecological preserve. Secondarily, the site will be managed as a non-consumptive recreational, educational, and wildlife management area.
Compatible uses for the site include nature trails, observation areas, nature appreciation, environmental education programs, interpretive displays, scientific research, and activities that are passive in nature and will not degrade the natural resource. |
