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Mayor’s Message continued

Inter Miami

Let’s now turn to what’s happening aquatically. We are Beckham’s team ultimately is expected to play in a new
determined to regain Fort Lauderdale’s preeminence in the stadium in Miami, but it will hold its first two seasons at
world of swimming and diving. On April 5, the city broke Lockhart. The Beckham group will house the team’s
ground on a long-needed renovation of the Fort Lauderdale headquarters and training facilities permanently at Lockhart
Aquatic Center on the barrier island. Under the $27 million and use it as the site for a new minor-league team, to be
plan, the existing pools, dive well, diving platform, named after our city. Also on site will be its youth
grandstands and locker rooms will be redone. academy, a free program to train and recruit the best
young players from throughout South Florida. The stadium
This could be just the beginning of what’s happening at the
aquatic center. We are in talks about private investment to and training fields will be available when possible for
build an extreme diving platform as part of the project, as public use. Other fields will be built that the public can use
high as 27 meters! It would be the only one of its kind in the full time for soccer, lacrosse, football or other sports.
western hemisphere. Also, the board of the International In its negotiations with the city, the Beckham group
Swimming Hall of Fame is committed to remaining in Fort committed to hosting high school athletic events and
Lauderdale and has commenced a fund-raising campaign to championships on the property – restoring a tradition that
renovate its museum facilities at the center. was lost years ago. The stadium will also be available for
concerts and national or international sporting events.
For too long, the city allowed the aquatic center to fall into
disrepair. Many competitive events departed for other Alongside the stadium, the Beckham group agreed to build
locations. We will turn that around. This is a game- a major public park. The details are being worked out, but
changing project for the beach and the city for decades to the park may include a playground, walking and jogging
come. The new aquatic center will dazzle, bringing back trails, a dog park and a community center.
major events and providing locals a great place for When you add it all together, Fort Lauderdale is a city on the
recreational swimming and diving. As a sign of things to move. We are committed to making these world-class facilities
come, Olympic athletes Ryan Lochte and Caeleb Dressel available to all, a boon for our city’s families and youth.
joined us for the ground-breaking ceremony.
A couple years ago, we were named an All-American City
Finally, there is the exciting news about soccer. The City for our quality of life. By these actions today, we take the
Commission has decided to work out a long-term agreement next step and ensure Fort Lauderdale is truly one of the best
with Beckham’s Inter Miami soccer group to refurbish the cities in the country. RV
Lockhart Stadium site. The team will demolish Lockhart and
Sincerely,
adjacent Fort Lauderdale Stadium, build a new stadium and Dean Trantalis
a set of soccer/multipurpose fields, and create a major new Mayor
park for the city – all at no cost to the taxpayers.

10 rio vista civic association • www.riovistaonline.com