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Update No. 14 | September 17, 2025 |
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Here's the latest: Huizenga Park is coming to life! Fresh new trees are being planted, Poppy’s Play Patch is shining with lush turf, park lights are being installed, and winding walkways are starting to take shape.
What's happening:
- Huizenga Park is getting greener every day.
- The park is buzzing with new life.
- Progress continues on site amenities.
Stay in the Loop: There are several ways for you to follow along on our journey.
Check out some other exciting Huizenga Park news below – a 3.5-minute read.
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I’m so excited to see Huizenga Park coming to life with new progress every week, and we can’t wait to host you when the park reopens!
To make the park truly special, we’re looking for programming partners to help organize regularly recurring programs that bring energy, joy, and community spirit to DowntownFTL. If you’re interested in being part of this journey, or know someone that would be a good fit, reach out to me. I’d love to connect with you!
- Juan Rodriguez, Urban Park Manager
| | Transformation in the Making | Huizenga Park as of September 15, 2025 | Huizenga Park is feeling like a park again! With trees being planted, wildlife returning, and new features taking shape, the energy is back in this beloved downtown space. Take a look at what’s growing, blooming, and being built—we’re getting closer every day. | |
Huizenga Park is getting greener by the day.
- New canopy trees and palms are going in all around the park! Look out for Gumbo Limbo trees, Live Oak trees, and Sabal Palms—especially the stunning oaks now surrounding the fountain in the photo below.
- Colorful understory trees like Purple Glory and Simpson Stopper are also being planted, adding texture and charm at ground level.
- The mix of tree types and heights is all part of the plan—creating a beautiful, layered landscape that feels lush and welcoming all year long.
| Large new oak trees recently planted around the Spirit of Fort Lauderdale Fountain, a gift from The Huizenga Family, adding much needed shade to this special area. | Walkways are beginning to take shape, with concrete bands framing out future pathways. | |
Huizenga Park is buzzing with new life.
- The park’s plant palette was chosen to welcome birds, butterflies, bees, squirrels, and more—and it’s working!
- We’re already seeing butterflies fluttering through the plantings and squirrels exploring the new greenery.
- And if you’ve heard their signature squawk around downtown, you know the green parakeets are back! They’ve returned to Huizenga Park and are making themselves at home along the Riverwalk.
| Say hello to our parakeet friend that frequents the historic bicentennial oak in the Liberty Circle, a gift from Rita and Rick Case Automotive. | | |
Progress continues on the park's amenities.
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The Dog Spot, a gift from Cassidy and Dan Towriss, is taking shape! Fence posts are up, pebble benches are in place, and the sandy base is coming together.
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Poppy’s Play Patch, generously funded by Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital, now has its soft rubber padding and fresh artificial turf installed—perfect for future play!
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Over at the Park Pavilion, a gift from Stiles, the interior floor slab is poured and wall framing is complete—big steps toward bringing this facility to life.
| | A view of The Dog Spot in progress, looking north to the Park Pavilion. | | Turf now blankets the mounds in Poppy’s Play Patch, bringing the play space to life. | | Walkways are being prepared for the installation of new pavers, bringing definition and charm to the park’s paths. | |
Here's what's next: Progress is visible across every inch of the park! Crews continue to drive progress forward with concrete pours, tree and plant installs, and continued work on the park's amenities. Each step brings us closer to completing the thoughtful design details that will make Huizenga Park truly special—an urban oasis built just for our DowntownFTL community.
Traffic and Access Updates:
- One eastbound lane on Las Olas Boulevard will remain closed between Andrews Avenue and SE 1st Avenue to allow construction trucks safe access into the park — helping reduce traffic impacts on SE 1st Avenue.
- The sidewalk along E Las Olas Blvd in front of Huizenga Park has been closed temporarily to replace the sidewalk and curb, likely through the end of September.
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The City of Fort Lauderdale is moving forward with changes to the intersection of Las Olas Blvd and SE 1st Avenue. Keep reading to learn more.
| | Riverwalk Maintenance Kicks Off | | |
We’re thrilled to share that BrightView, one of the nation’s leading landscape maintenance companies, has recently begun maintaining the landscape along Huizenga Park’s Riverwalk on an interim basis. Their support is already making a noticeable difference, and we’re excited to see the positive impact of their work.
Bringing BrightView on board marks a major step forward in our mission to ensure Huizenga Park remains a vibrant, clean, and welcoming space for everyone who visits. From pristine lawns to thoughtfully maintained amenities, we're committed to creating a first-class park experience—and we’re just getting started!
| Changes Coming to Las Olas Blvd & SE 1 Avenue | |
In our efforts to improve mobility around Huizenga Park, the City of Fort Lauderdale has partnered with the DDA to make improvements at the SE 1 Avenue and Las Olas Boulevard intersection.
What: Removal of traffic signals and installing better crosswalks, pavement markings, and signage
When: Starting Monday, September 22 at 8:00 p.m. through late October
Why: Goal is to convert the intersection into a four-way stop like at SE 2 Avenue.
- First, the east-west traffic signals will be removed and rapid flashing beacon (RFB) signs will be installed.
- Pedestrian data will be collected, and if the numbers meet minimum thresholds, Broward County will allow the intersection to become a four-way stop.
Remember This:
- Cars moving east-west will no longer get a red light to allow pedestrians to cross Las Olas.
- Always press the RFB signal to cross the street and be aware of moving vehicles.
| | Project history and timeline | |
After years of planning and design, Huizenga Park is undergoing a complete renovation that kicked off in August 2024. Construction is expected to take just over a year to complete, reopening in early 2026.
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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