Fort Lauderdale Reopens Huizenga Park After $2M Renovation

Fort Lauderdale officials cut the ribbon Saturday on a newly renovated Huizenga Park, marking the completion of a two-year, $2 million project that transformed the downtown green space.

City commissioners, residents and community leaders gathered at the park to celebrate the makeover, which included new playground equipment, upgraded landscaping and improved walkways throughout the facility.

“This is a great day for our downtown community,” said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “This park will serve families and visitors for generations to come.”

The renovation addressed longstanding maintenance issues and added modern amenities to the park, located in the heart of downtown Fort Lauderdale. Construction began in early 2022 and wrapped up this fall.

City officials said the project was funded through a combination of municipal bonds and community development funds. The work included replacing aging infrastructure and installing new safety features throughout the park.

“We wanted to create a space that reflects the vibrancy of our downtown,” said Parks and Recreation Director Susan Grant. “This renovation does exactly that.”

Residents who attended Saturday’s celebration praised the city’s investment in the downtown area. Several families brought children to test out the new playground equipment immediately after the ceremony.

The park renovation is part of Fort Lauderdale’s broader downtown revitalization efforts, which have included other local government initiatives aimed at attracting more residents and businesses to the area.

Huizenga Park sits adjacent to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts and serves as a gathering place for downtown events throughout the year. The facility includes open green space, walking paths and now features updated lighting for evening use.

City officials said they expect the renovated park to host more community events and festivals in the coming months. The improvements were designed to accommodate larger crowds while maintaining the park’s role as a quiet retreat in the urban core.

The project faced some delays during construction due to supply chain issues and permitting requirements, pushing the original completion date from summer 2023 to fall 2024.

Fort Lauderdale has allocated additional funds for park improvements citywide as part of its five-year capital improvement plan. Officials said they plan to announce the next phase of park renovations in early 2025.