Page 46 - LOBI0724

The People’s Park

By Erik Petersen

The people behind the nestles near the north bank of the New River between the
Riverwalk, Las Olas Boulevard and the rise of the Andrews
reimagined Huizenga Park Avenue bridge. A fountain sits at its northwest corner. Until
recently, a bandstand sat at its southwest one.
see it as a place that could The bandstand’s recent demolition speaks to the changes

provide a space - or really, planned for the park. Plans for the new park include a dog
run, a “moundscape” kids’ play area, a Riverwalk-adjacent
many different kinds of spaces raised wood deck and at the center of it all, a large open
lawn. Seating options in various parts of the park will include
- for the people who call the movable tables and chairs as well as permanent structures.
changing downtown home. Plans call for many more trees to be planted. The fountain will
get a makeover. And at the corner of the park, around the site
of the old bandstand, there will be a new building housing a
wenty years ago, you didn’t see as many dogs in new restaurant.
downtown Fort Lauderdale. There weren’t as many The project’s official groundbreaking was in May, and the
Tjoggers, either. Outdoor yoga classes, couples on re-imagined park is expected to be ready by late 2025. Some
dates, parents pushing strollers - there was less of it all. Or to concerns remain, particularly around traffic and other issues
put it more simply, nobody lived downtown.
relating to the new restaurant. But leaders of Fort Lauderdale’s
It is not breaking news to note that today, all that has Downtown Development Authority, which owns the park land,
changed. And now, one of the city’s downtown parks is and the Huizenga Park Foundation, and confident residents
changing with it. Huizenga Park, formerly Huizenga Plaza, will be impressed when they see the finished project.

44 LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES

6/26/24 8:04 PM
LOBI 0724 A.indd 44
LOBI 0724 A.indd 44 6/26/24 8:04 PM