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Heather Moraitis
District I Commissioner
CITY OF FORT LAUDERDALE
12
Commissioner’s Message
From the Desk of Commissioner
Heather Moraitis
ark your calendars for Tuesday, March 12, 2019! That’s when voters will
have an opportunity to participate in a Special Election that will shape the
Mfuture of our City.
The City Commission unanimously approved placing two bond proposals on the
March 12 ballot that, if approved, would allocate up to $200 million for citywide
improvements to our parks and recreation facilities, and up to $100 million to
construct a new police headquarters and improve public safety.
The parks bond would fund signature projects in each Commission District, plus
hundreds of additional capital improvements throughout our community. In District 1,
we would see a complete redevelopment of Lockhart Stadium and the surrounding
property, including rehabilitating the football/soccer complex, adding new
multipurpose synthetic turf athletic fields, and developing the adjacent open space
with walking trails and fitness stations.
Other major initiatives would include extensive renovations at Holiday Park,
including the addition of a water playground, sand volleyball courts, a parking
garage, fitness trail, tennis courts, and new playground. A new community center
would be built at Joseph C. Carter Park, along with new synthetic turf athletic fields,
security lighting, and a vibrant destination playground. Las Olas Boulevard would
be home to a new Tunnel Top Park, which would be constructed on top of the Henry
Kinney Tunnel above Federal Highway.
Nearly every park in our City would see significant upgrades that would encompass
a wide range of enhancements including new playgrounds, walking trails, pools
and splash pads, boat slips and ramps, outdoor fitness equipment, athletic courts
and fields, lighting, solar panels, and shade structures, pavilions, restrooms, ADA
improvements, and even new dog parks.
A portion of the parks bond would also be used for land acquisition to expand our
green space and help us continue to promote active, healthy lifestyles, increase
leisure and social engagement, and enhance quality of life.
Ensuring the safety and protection of our neighbors remains the City’s top priority.
Maintaining and enhancing the outstanding level of service provided by our
Fort Lauderdale Police Department requires proper resources, equipment, and
modern facilities.
The public safety bond would enable us to replace the current police headquarters
which was built in 1958 when the police department and our City were both
significantly smaller. The 85,000 square-foot building is 60 years old, functionally
obsolete, and parts of it are in deteriorating condition. The new facility would offer
225,000 square feet, provide expanded work space and integrated state-of-the-art
technology to a department that has grown to 525 sworn officers and 727 sworn and
non-sworn personnel. The station would be constructed with energy and operationally
efficient features, along with hurricane resistant materials and techniques to better
serve the public safety needs of our City which is expected to grow to over 203,000
in the next decade. The complex would also include a parking garage and additional
CORAL RIDGE COUNTRY CLUB ESTATES HOA