From David Volz
The City of Oakland Park continues to win grants to make necessary improvements.
The most recent grant award of $3.59 million from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection will be used for two projects to strengthen community resilience, including $2.38 million for flood protection at Lake Emerald and $1.2 million for stormwater enhancements at City Park.
In 2020, the City conducted a study to evaluate areas in Oakland Park that are vulnerable to flooding. The western lake area of the City, including Lake Emerald, just west of I-95 between Commercial Boulevard and Oakland Park Boulevard, was identified as an area susceptible to sea level rise and changing climate conditions. The City will use the grant funding to create a series of connections between the upland lakes through Lake Emerald, with overflow discharge into the C-13 Canal, which is part of the regional canal drainage system.
These connections will enable water to move from the uplands area through these isolated lake systems to make the area less vulnerable to flooding. At City Park, green stormwater infrastructure will be installed to capture and divert rainwater. This innovative project will incorporate an underground retention area to increase the capacity of stormwater to flow from the park into storage. The City plans to use the captured runoff water to irrigate City Park, which will help conserve this vital resource. The water storage area will also serve as a performance platform and outdoor seating area for park visitors.
Since 2015, the City has secured over $53.5 million in grant funding for various projects to strengthen infrastructure and enhance the quality of life in Oakland Park
