Page 47 - LOBI0724

“Great public spaces are the soul of a city. We are thrilled to to draw people downtown was visible; the main library was
reach this milestone in transforming about two decades old, the Broward Center about one.

Huizenga Park into a world-class public space for generations The original plan for a park near the river and the Andrews
of Downtown Fort Lauderdale residents, Avenue bridge involved another space that would bring
people into downtown for big events. A large, mostly empty
employees and visitors,” DDA President and CEO Jenni
Morejon said at the groundbreaking. space with a stage in one corner, it could host concerts and
festivals. It could be a 5k finish line. If a team won a pennant
DDA chairman Charlie Ladd reckons people won’t really get or there was some other cause for civic celebration, you could
the full effect of the project until they’re stood in the middle of have the party there.
the new park.
“That land was originally designed to bring people
“When people see how good it is,” he said, “they’re going to downtown,” Ladd said.
be shocked.”
Now more than 25,000 people live downtown, and the
The people behind the project say the changes to the park number continues to grow. Based on projects now being built
reflect the changes to downtown. The DDA, an entity that or approved, it’s believed that the number of people living
taxes downtown commercial properties with a mission of between the old Searstown site and the area just south of the
improvement for downtown, has owned the Huizenga Park river could someday top 50,000. That has changed what the
land for three-and-a-half decades. The park first opened in community needs from a park.
the early 2000s, during that time when downtown looked
different. Las Olas west of the tunnel largely emptied out after “It’s people’s front yard or backyard that live downtown or
5pm on weekdays and stayed empty on weekends. In corners work downtown,” Ladd said. “The design now, the idea is that
and pockets, a civic plan that included large public amenities you could walk over from your apartment building, walk your
dog, work out, work on your iPad.”

LAS OLAS BOULEVARD & ISLES 45

6/26/24 8:04 PM
LOBI 0724 A.indd 45
LOBI 0724 A.indd 45 6/26/24 8:04 PM