Update No. 9 | April16, 2025

Here's the latest: Riverwalk improvements are taking shape, paving the way to progress in our mission to reimagine Huizenga Park.

What's happening: 

1. Huizenga Park's marine work is complete.
2. Riverwalk Reimagined is taking shape.
3. Huizenga Park's bathroom building gets started.

Stay in the Loop: There are several ways for you to follow along on our journey. 

• Follow @huizengapark on Facebook, Instagram and X
• Share your favorite photo of a memory at Huizenga Park for a chance to be featured on our social media pages!
• Go to www.huizengapark.org
• Feel free to call or email if you have questions: 954-463-6574

Check out some other exciting Huizenga Park news below – a 3.5 min read.

Be a Part of the Future of Public Spaces in DowntownFTL

Are you passionate about creating world-class public spaces and unforgettable guest experiences? This is your chance to make an impact!

The Fort Lauderdale Downtown Development Authority (DDA) is looking for an Urban Park Manager to lead the reopening and ongoing success of Huizenga Park Reimagined—set to become one of the best downtown parks in the country when it debuts later this year. But that’s just the beginning! This role will also help shape the future of other key public spaces in DowntownFTL as the city continues to grow.

Why Join Us?

✔ Lead the reopening and ongoing success of Huizenga Park and beyond

✔ Work in a dynamic, fast-paced, and collaborative environment

✔ Play a key role in elevating public spaces across DowntownFTL

If you're ready to set the standard for public space management in one of the fastest-growing cities in the country, we want to hear from you! Apply now and help us create something extraordinary.

Transformation in the Making

Huizenga Park as of April 15, 2025

While much of Huizenga Park remains an active construction site looking like a dirt field, we've made tremendous progress over the past month, with Riverwalk getting closer to reopening. Be sure to walk by sometime on our temporary path to see what we've been working on!

Huizenga Park's marine work is complete.

• Riverwalk's new overlook structure is in place, bringing you fantastic views up and down the New River.
• Preventative in-water seawall maintenance is will soon be completed by the marine contractor, extending the useful life of the city's seawall in this location.
• Seawall caps have been elevated to match the higher grades in Huizenga Park, making Riverwalk and Huizenga Park more resilient.

Concrete crews during the concrete pour for the Riverwalk overlook.

Completed Riverwalk overlook structure extending over the New River.

Riverwalk Reimagined is taking shape.

• Concrete bands are going into place, creating the outer edges of the future Riverwalk pathway.
• Riverwalk brick laying is expected to get started this month, with thousands of bricks going back into our city's iconic pathway. Custom named bricks were inventoried early on in construction and will be replaced in similar locations.
• The historic bicentennial liberty oak tree is thriving in its larger planting area and has been closely monitored by an arborist while work has gently taken place around it.

Future Riverwalk pathway heading around the bicentennial liberty oak tree.

Crews finalizing concrete formwork for concrete bands and final Riverwalk grading.

Concrete pour in progress along Riverwalk.

Huizenga Park's bathroom building begins.

• The building's foundation is prepped and ready to be poured.
• The building will also be home to the Spirit of Fort Lauderdale Fountain's pumps and other important equipment.
• Did you know that bathrooms were planned in the original Huizenga Plaza, but were never constructed? As part of the park's redesign, bathrooms were an important amenity to increase park visitor dwell time. To ensure our bathrooms will be clean and safe, a park team member will be monitoring this space during open hours.

Bathroom foundation prepped for a concrete pour.

30-Day Outlook

View looking east standing on the Riverwalk overlook structure.

Here's what's next: The contractor is working away on the Riverwalk improvements and will begin the process of reinstalling bricks over the next month. Within the park, the underground utilities will continue with water and sewer work, as well as work on the foundations and shell of the bathroom building.

Other impacts: One eastbound lane along Las Olas Boulevard will remain closed from Andrews Avenue to SE 1 Avenue. This serves to provide truck access into the park and minimize the number of construction vehicles that need to enter SE 1 Avenue. The sidewalk on the west side of SE 1 Avenue will remain closed for pedestrian safety and the Riverwalk will continue to be detoured until Riverwalk reopens.

Welcome to the Neighborhood

Join us in welcoming Mykonos, located just west of Huizenga Park, to the neighborhood! This new eatery is bringing coastal Greek vibes, a vibrant cocktail scene, and an open-air ambiance to the former Rivertail space along the Riverwalk. From fresh seafood and mezze plates to signature cocktails and a new happy hour lineup, this spot is a fresh addition to our city's dynamic dining scene.

Project history and timeline

After years of planning and design, Huizenga Park will undergo a complete renovation that kicked off in August 2024. Construction is expected to take just over a year to complete, reopening by the end of 2025. 

Big Vision: Huizenga Park will become Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s signature gathering place, exquisitely designed, activated, safe and comfortable. A space for everyone, to be used from morning through the evening, and every day of the year. A series of uniquely designed outdoor rooms will set Huizenga Park apart from traditional parks, offering opportunities for leisure, dining, physical activity, events, and meet-ups. A reimagined Huizenga Park will set the new standard for urban parks in Fort Lauderdale. 

About the Huizenga Park Foundation

The Huizenga Park Foundation is a nonprofit established in 2022 to promote, advance, foster and support the reimagining of Huizenga Park.

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