May 2025

Two years after historic storm,

fast-tracked infrastructure work continues

It’s hard to believe that just over two years have passed since our community faced historic flooding — the worst in the state’s history. We all remember that the record-breaking rain caused a lot of damage, but it also showed how strong the city is.

In response, we’ve worked hard to make the city more flood resistant. We launched Fortify Lauderdale targeting $600 million to fix flood-prone neighborhoods. We’ve had many accomplishments in the time since and more progress is on the way. Phase 2 is going to target 25 more neighborhoods for improvements.

What have we accomplished? Consider this:

The Edgewood stormwater project was one of the first to be finished under Fortify Lauderdale. It has 5.6 miles of reinforced concrete pipe. With the Osceola Creek Restoration Project, we improved the flow of water from SW 32 Place to Marina Mile Boulevard. We removed debris, made the banks stronger, got rid of invasive plants and dredged the creek.

In the River Oaks neighborhood, we added 278 drainage structures and more 21,000 feet of drainage pipe. We also repaired more than 5,500 linear feet of existing pipe and rebuilt more than 61,500 square yards of swales. And, a new pump station now supports both River Oaks and Edgewood.

The project in the Durrs neighborhood was a huge undertaking, with over a year’s worth of work completed way ahead of schedule! We installed 35,000 feet of stormwater pipe, added more than 250 drainage structures, and reconstructed 81,000 square yards of swales. This early finish shows how committed the city is to providing real flood protection as soon as possible.

Here are some projects currently underway:

In the historic Dorsey-Riverbend area, a flood-control project is expected to be finished a year early. It includes 21,000 feet of stormwater pipe and 90 drainage structures. Crews are also installing a new sewer pump station, moving nearby water and sewer lines, fixing driveways and swales, restoring pavement, and trimming trees to improve flow and safety.

Work in Progresso Village includes 21,000 feet of stormwater pipe, 100 drainage structures, and a new stormwater pump station. Design work is also occurring in the Melrose Manors/Riverland area, the Southeast Isles, and Victoria Park. These projects will bring much-needed drainage solutions and infrastructure improvements to areas that have been vulnerable to storm and tidal flooding.

The city is committed to making Fort Lauderdale a safer place for everyone, and these projects are just one step in that direction. We aren’t just rebuilding. We are looking to the future.

In other news, I’m pleased to announce that the city has hired its first ever chief waterway officer, fulfilling a promise that the City Commission made to focus more attention on the health and preservation of our waterways. We take seriously our motto as the Venice of America.

Please welcome Marco Aguilera. He has a strong background in code enforcement with related experience in environmental enforcement, stormwater issues and waterway enforcement. He got off to a great start — helping rescue a dock that floated away from George English Park.

I’d also like to give a shout-out to the recent TYR Pro Swim Series at the aquatic center. This was a great event that resulted in three world records being set.

Katie Ledecky and Gretchen Walsh broke their own world records. Ledecky swam the fastest time in history in the 800m freestyle, while Walsh set new world records in the 100m butterfly. These achievements brought the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Complex to 13 world record swims in its history. 

The TYR event shows how the aquatic center has come back to the world stage in swimming and diving since the city’s major rehabilitation of the facility with its new pools and iconic dive tower. I expect to see an ever-increasing number of great competitions coming to our town.

One last piece of exciting news:

Our movie studio plans continue to progress. Infinite Reality has now partnered with Sterling Bay, in our quest to bring a 60-acre high-tech movie and video production campus to Fort Lauderdale by 2026.

Backed by a $3 billion investment, the project will transform a long-vacant Superfund site into a global headquarters for immersive media. The campus will feature 100,000 square feet of Class A office space, retail, production studios, and community training programs — and is expected to support around 1,000 new jobs.

Please mark on your calendars, our Memorial Day weekend events for the year.

On Saturday, May 24, the city will host the Great American Beach Party. Festivities will run from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Las Olas Oceanside Park. There will be a sand-sculpting contest, water slides, family activities, a classic car show, a para-commando parachute jump and the induction of new honorees into the city’s Walk of Fame.

Then on Monday, May 26, we will honor those who died in service of our country with two events. The first will be at 9 a.m. at Lauderdale Memorial Park Cemetery, 2001 SW 4 Ave., while the second is at 11 a.m. at the Sandy Nininger Statue on the Riverwalk next to the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. 

Yours,

Dean