Building Our 2nd Century: News
2021: City Breaks Ground on City Park, Phase 1
The City of Oakland Park held a groundbreaking ceremony June 11, 2021 for Phase I of City Park. Located at 3900 NE Third Avenue, the $5.9 million project will include a new splash pad, playground, and basketball courts, and renovated pickleball courts and concession stand. Centrally located on NE 38 Street and Third Avenue, City Park is a nine-acre, multi-use park and library complex. Additional amenities of Phase I will include new ADA restrooms and covered pavilion. Designs are underway for Phase II, which will include a new City library and community center, an urban forest, butterfly garden, exercise area and jogging trail.
2020: City of Oakland Park Unveils Designs for New Buildings and Advances to Pre-Construction Phase
On July 22, 2020, city staff unveiled the designs for four new buildings in Oakland Park. Oakland Park City Commissioners approved next steps in the City’s Comprehensive Facilities Plan. The City’s new Public Works Facility, as well as Fire Stations 9 and 87, will advance to the pre-construction phase, and the design of the N. Andrews Gardens Community Center will move to Phase II. In addition, City Commissioners also approved first reading of the Ordinance to re-zone the CubeSmart property that will house the new Fire Station 20.
Funded by Oakland Park’s $40 million General Obligation Bond, which was approved by 67 percent of voters on November 6, 2018, the Comprehensive Facilities Plan is the cornerstone of the City’s 10-year redevelopment plan. Spearheaded by City Manager David Hebert, the redevelopment plan is targeted for completion in 2029 in tandem with the City’s centennial birthday.
“Our new buildings will be models of urban civic spaces that are sustainable, reliable, safe, and beautiful,” said City Manager David Hebert. “While we remain in challenging times, future construction of these buildings offer several opportunities including lower interest rates and costs for building materials, and the creation of more than 3,000 local jobs created by private development projects planned in Oakland Park.”
In total, the City’s Comprehensive Facilities Plan includes the construction of four new buildings: the Public Works Facility (the completed complex will also include an Emergency Operations Center and two-story parking garage), the N. Andrews Gardens Community Center, Fire Station 9, and Fire Station 20 that will be built by CubeSmart (saving the City $4 to $6 Million) but occupied by the city. The Plan also includes renovations to Park Place at Jaco Pastorius Park, Fire Station 87, and the City’s Municipal Building.
“I am thrilled to see a consistent look throughout these buildings so people can recognize them,” said Mayor Matthew Sparks. Vice Mayor Jane Bolin added, “It certainly is very exciting and speaks to a city on the move. It is incredible that we have been moving forward during this difficult time.”
In addition to the City’s new buildings funded by the bond, the Oakland Park Square project, along North Dixie Highway, is in the pre-development phase. The mixed-use development will feature nearly 35,000 square feet of commercial space, residential apartments, live-work units, on-site parking, and new City Hall offices and additional public space.
“Our plans for continued redevelopment provide an amazing opportunity to build community while celebrating the diversity and multi-generational character of the City of Oakland Park,” said Casey Graham, P.E., Director of Engineering and Building Services.
2019: City Kicks Off Building Our 2nd Century
On October 3, 2019, the City of Oakland Park celebrated the demolition of the decommissioned wastewater treatment plant located at 5100 NE 12th Terrace. The demolition is the first step to plan to construct a new Public Works Complex and also a larger program for facility improvements to plan, design, and construct as the City begins Building Our 2nd Century.