Country Club Park Update

SITE PLAN

In 1999, past and present residents approached the city of Plantation to buy the 2.89 acre open field off of SW 45 Avenue/Peters Rd.  In 2002, the city finally purchased the property to use it as a park.  Since 2002, no work or plans have been done on the park.

Your city council has indicated that they have earmarked $100,000 to develop the plans for this park in this year 2004/2005 budget.  Once the plans are finalized, they will utilize $500,000 to build the park in 2005/2006.

Keep checking back for updates.

UPDATES (SCROLL DOWN FOR MOST RECENT)

10/29/04 - An email was sent to the Parks & Recreation Director requesting a sign be erected on the property indicating that a park is going to be built there.  The sign is being made and will be put up shortly

11/15/04 - Due to the large amount of beer bottles, cans and trash on the SW 45 Ave swale, it was collected by Joseph Mercogliano.  An email was sent to Parks Director Romano to have it picked up and to have the swale kept clean

11/28/04 - At the November Membership Meeting, a Park Committee was formed to help, assist and guide the city on the development of our park.  The members on this committee are Priscilla Hawk, Tim Gardner, Bill Ritter & Joseph Mercogliano

12/2004 - A second and third email was sent to parks Director to check on the status of our park signage

01/23/2005 - The Park Committee met at Priscilla Hawks home at 600pm.  At this meeting it was decided that the committee would send a letter to the mayor and city council inviting them to our Feb 22, 2005 Board of Directors meeting so we can make a presentation to them on our vision for not only the park but the whole Peters Road corridor to include issues such as code enforcement, the traffic problems on SW 45 Ave and what we want in our park.  If anyone has any comments or suggestions for the park, please send them to countryclubestates@comcast.net.

01/24/2005 - The city finally erected a very small sign, behind the fence on SW 45 Ave stating that the land will be made into a park.

02/02/2005 - The Park Committee will be making a presentation at the City of Plantation Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Meeting on February 22, 2005 at 700 pm/Kennedy Center  5555 Palm Tree Road.

02/11/2005 - The city was sent an email regarding the small sign that was erected on 01/24/2005.  The city has erected a bigger sign on a taller pole.

02/18/2005 - The association received word from Broward County that they would be repaving Old Peters Rd from SR 7 to Davie Blvd in March.  As part of the project, they will be installing landscaping and grass medians.

02/22/2005 - The Park Committee made its presentation to the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board.  We received a very positive reaction from the Board.  The Board voted unanimously to present our concerns and most of all, our wishes for the park to the Mayor and City Council.  Numerous board members were very concerned on how long it has been taking for our park and pressed this issue with the Parks director.  Hopefully the city will start drawing up the plans and will have a meeting with the association to present those plans for our further input.

03/24/2005 - A letter was received from the City of Plantation announcing a Community Park Planning Meeting regarding the McGinnis Park, on April 27, 2005 @ 600pm at the Jim Ward Center.

04/27/2005 - The Community Park Planning Meeting took place on 04/27.  In attendance were numerous residents, members of the Parks Advisory Board, Mr. Romano/Parks & Rec. Director, Mr. Siegel/Landscape Director & Councilwomen Bendekovic & Uria.  The city presented their site plan for our park which was well received by those in attendance.  The city is now going to start the official planning for the park and construction should begin in early 2006. 

05/11/2005 - The City Council unanimously approved to accept $285,000 from Broward County as reimbursement for the original purchase price of the park.  In doing so the land is ensured to be a park for perpetuity.  Pricilla Hawk publicly thanked the Council for all the progress and work that has gone on with our new park.

07/09/2005 - The city is planning to use $143,000 from Community Development Block Grant(CDBG) money to fund the development of the park. By doing so, the money has to be used by October 2006 which is good news for our community and park project and puts our park in line with the 2005/2006 budget which begins September 1, 2005!

08/17/2005 - The city proposed to apply for a $265,000 Florida Recreational Development Assistance Grant for our park.  By doing so, they would of applied for the grant in Sept. 2005 and if approved, would of been granted them money in October 2006.  The staff then went on to say that construction would not begin until 2007.  Upon hearing this, your Board of Directors strongly objected to this on the grounds that we were promised several times in the media, public city documents, city council meetings, Parks & Rec Advisory Board Meetings and memos that our park would be built in the 2005/2006 budget year.  We informed the staff that the city presently has: $100,000(2003 Bond for our Park), $285,000(Broward County Parks Preservation Board), $143,000(CDBG/Federal Money) for a total of $528,000.  The proposed city total budget for our park is $500,000.  When we informed of all these facts, the staff acquiesced and proposed to take the $528,000 and start to construct the park.  They would still apply for the grant for landscaping, the trail and playground.  The Phase 1 portion would be to tear down the fence, and sod the park so that we can start to enjoy it as an open space.  Upon notifying the city council persons of all theses developments, they were appalled and promised to see that our park be a priority and would see to it to that effect.

08/24/2005 - The McGinnis Park Committee addressed the city council at the Council meeting.  The timeline was provided to the Mayor and council.  The Mayor stated that the city is going to apply for the FRDAP grant and survey & site planning will take place in 2005 and the park should be constructed by Summer 2006.

08/29/2005 - At the Special Budget Workshop, Councilman Levy asked what is the status of our park in the 2005/2006 budget.  In response to Councilman Levy, Mr. Romano indicated the McGinnis Development is expected to be completed by June 2006. It was further noted that $358,000 is available now to begin the project. A schedule has been formulated to begin in advance of the grant and will still secure the City’s position for the $200,000.

08/31/2005 - At the council meeting, the council voted to apply for a $200,000 FRDAP grant for our park.  Councilman Levy asked that no other Park is developed before our and all 4 councilmen and the Mayor committed that the planning and bidding will take place in 2005 and construction will be in 2006.

09/04/2005 - A survey crew was on site taking a survey of the property.

09/21/2005 - Broward County Traffic constructed our long awaited median at SW 45 Ave & Peters Rd., preventing dangerous left turns into and out of our community.  This was a wish of the community and the McGinnis Park Committee.  This will also help to protect the children as they go to the park off of SW 45 Ave.

10/10/2005 - The City of Plantation has put our park out to bid for design & construction.  The total allocated budget is $558,700.  The city is accepting bids up until Nov 1.  On Nov 15, the city will pick the top 3 vendors.  Then on Nov 18, the top 3 bidders will give an oral presentation.  On Nov 30, the bidder will be selected.  The bid documents mirror the site plan that was presented on April 27.  The only additions were that there will be a brick faced sign with the name of the park and a tie in feature to the Linear Park around Country Club Circle.  The bid documents also call for a completion date of July 2006!!!!

12/23/2005 - The City of Plantation awarded a contract to Recreational Design & Construction Inc.(www.recreationaldesign.com) to construct the park.  The contract awarded was for $558,583 with an anticipated completion date of July 2006!  The Park Committee publicly thanked the city at the Dec. 14th council meeting.

04/27/2006 - Construction has FINALLY started!!!!  The crews were out clearing the old fence and removing the overgrown trees throughout the property

05/22/2006 - According to the city, there is a delay in construction due to the following issues: The light pole in the middle of the park needs to be removed by FP&L, the old concrete wall on the north side needs to be removed and a fence needs to be put around the construction site.  These issues will be rectified shortly and according to the city, the park will be completed by August 2006

08/25/2006 - Construction is once again, full steam ahead.  The playground has been installed and the crews are working on installing the pavilion, parking area and exercise course.  Completion is planned for mid September

12/15/2006 - THE PARK HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND IS NOW OPEN.  A SPECIAL THANK YOU TO GEORGE LORD AND PRISCILLA HAWK WHO STARTED THE DRIVE TO HAVE THE PARK BUILT IN 1999.  ENJOY!!!!

01/24/2007 - The City Council voted to name our park, COUNTRY CLUB PARK.  The park dedication will be in the a.m. on March 10th, 2007.