Oakland Park offers new sidewalk system around Lloyd Estates
From David Volz
As part of Oakland Park’s effort to create a vibrant and safer community leading up to Oakland Park’s centennial in 2029, city leaders have made presentations on the new sidewalk system around Lloyd Estates Elementary School.
This initiative is part of the Safe Routes to School project, which aims to ensure that most of the city’s young students within a ¼ mile of the school can walk to school safely. Crews are working in several key areas, including NW 5th Avenue between NW 40th Court and NW 41st Street and 43rd Court, west of 5th Avenue. The project involves installing and replacing approximately 14,750 linear feet of five-foot-wide sidewalks.
This comprehensive plan also includes installing ADA-compliant ramps, crosswalks, and curbs to enhance pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Our City secured a $922,749 grant from the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Safe Routes to School Program, complemented by $751,690 from the Broward MPO. Thanks to this funding, construction is now almost halfway complete. The project kicked off in February 2024 and is expected to take about nine months to complete.
Oakland Park residents can stay informed in an emergency with official updates from the city. Oakland Park uses CodeRED to send voice messages, emails, and texts during emergencies, severe weather, precautionary boil water notices, or other important events. Residents can receive notifications in Spanish, French, Portuguese, or English. Residents can also sign up for weather alerts from the National Weather Service to be notified of severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and potential flash flooding. Residents have to opt-in to receive these alerts.
Oakland Park’s senior residents have a new community center
From David Volz
Oakland Park welcomed Active Adult participants to the program’s new home at the beautiful North Andrews Gardens Community Center in early June. Annual participation in the Active Adults program is $20 for residents and $25 for non-residents and is renewable each October. The membership fee covers all costs for the program except field trips and special luncheons. The new Community Center in North Andrews Gardens also hosts Jazzercise daily and yoga and weight management classes weekly
During COVID-19 period, the Oakland Park initiated the Parade of Orchids at Stunson Nature Trail, made possible by donations from the city’s generous residents, as a heartfelt tribute to those who served our community. In April 2024, more than a dozen volunteers generously contributed their time to plant over 300 new bulbs, further enhancing the Parade of Orchids and continuing the legacy of service. Those blooms have started to spring to life in recent weeks, creating a magical path at the Stunson Nature Trail at 1701 NW 38th Street.
