2020 Parks Bond - Updates and FAQs | City of West Palm Beach, FL

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IMPORTANT UPDATES

Coleman Park & Community Center

Renovations are well underway for Coleman Park! This project includes a brand new, 8,000 sq. ft. gymnasium, renovated community center, new playground, and new pavilion. We look forward to a ribbon cutting for Coleman Park & Community Center in the summer of 2024!

Gaines Park Community Center & Tennis Center

Construction at Gaines Park Community Center includes demolition and rebuilding of the gymnasium, renovation, and expansion of the community center (from 17,707 sq. ft. to 25,826 sq. ft.), and energy-efficient lighting. Improvements to the Jimmie “Doc” Horne Tennis Facility include demolition, rebuilding, and expansion of the tennis center building (800 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft.), resurfacing of the tennis courts, with the addition of two new courts, new fencing, and energy-efficient lighting. The work will progress from April 2024 over the 2 years. Estimated completion is early 2026.

Howard Park Tennis Center

Construction at the Howard Park Tennis Center is scheduled to begin in December 2023. This project includes resurfacing the existing seven (7) clay courts and two (2) hard courts, clubhouse renovation and expansion, the addition of four (4) pickleball courts, upgraded lighting (LED), and landscape improvements. The area will be fenced off until the contractor has completed the project. Work began in January 2024 and the estimated completion is late 2024.

For general information regarding the project, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (561) 804-4900 (TTY: 800-955-8771). Please visit our list of Park Facilities for available courts!

Park Bond Progress Photos:

Coleman Park Photos

Howard Park Tennis Center Photos

OVERVIEW

What is the Parks Bond?

The City issued a 20-year bond in the year 2000 that provided $20 million for park upgrades throughout the City that were completed as part of the City’s Park Master Plan. The repayment of that bond issuance expires in September of 2020.

Twenty years later, many of the City’s parks are again facing critical needs to replace playgrounds, improve lighting, resurface parking lots and trails and install infrastructure that would allow for enhanced community amenities and greater activation of parks. The City desires to complete the construction, improvement, renovation, equipping and furnishing of some parks and recreation projects (see below) and desires to issue general obligation bonds to fund these parks and recreation projects in an amount not to exceed $30 million.

On November 18, 2019, City Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a bond referendum election in conjunction with the regular municipal election on March 17, 2020.

During the December 2, 2019 meeting of the West Palm Beach City Commission, the 2020 Parks Bond Referendum was approved unanimously by the City Commission. As a result, this initiative will be presented to voters in conjunction with the regular municipal election on March 17, 2020. If approved, the issuance of general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $30 million would facilitate widespread improvements and renovations to the City’s many parks. Additionally, the Parks Bond Referendum would be repaid from ad valorem taxation. It would not be an additional tax or fee, as property owners have already been paying a parks bond, which expires in September of 2020.

Why is the Parks Bond Needed?

The West Palm Beach park system is made up of nearly 60 public parks, providing community members with hundreds of amenities. Examples of these amenities include playgrounds, walking trails, sporting courts, athletic fields, recreation centers and much more. These resources periodically require renovations and/or replacements due to their regular “life expectancy,” natural wear and tear from daily use and constant exposure to the elements (steady sunlight, rainfall, heat, etc.) As the City’s population grows there is also a need to add additional park infrastructure and amenities to keep up with demand.

What Benefits Would the Parks Bond Provide?

Why are These Improvements Necessary?

Well-maintained parks contribute to a city’s overall value and add vibrancy to neighborhoods and improve quality of life. Making these necessary renovations is vital to keeping our City’s properties at optimal values. Additionally, the equipment in many of our parks are nearing the end of their “life expectancy,” making replacement a more cost-effective solution when compared to ongoing repairs.

How Will These Improvements Impact Our City?

West Palm Beach has established a tradition of making parks a priority for residents and visitors. Parks help connect individuals of all ages by providing activities for active lifestyles and healthy communities. The goal of the new parks bond is to allow our City to continue providing these safe, recreational spaces to further develop the camaraderie and close-knit neighborhood feel that starts in parks.

What Prompted the City to Consider the Need for a Bond Referendum Now?

What Parks Will This Bond Benefit and How Were They Selected?

The following parks are included in the 2020 parks bond:

Alice Mickens Park
Bill Moss - Hillcrest Paseo Park
Blum Park
Brian Chappell Park
Coleman Park
Currie Park
Dreher Park
Echo Lake Park
Flagler Trails
Fogelman Park
Gaines Park and Community Center
George Petty Park
Howard Park and Tennis Center
José Marti Park
Lake Mangonia Park
Lincoln Park
Osprey Park
Phipps Park
South Olive Park and Tennis Center
Sunset Park
Vedado Park
Village Paws Park
Warren Hawkins Aquatic Center

DRAFT Park Projects for Referendum 2020
Park name	Estimated Cost	Improvements	District	Status
Alice Mickens Park	$400,000	Repair basketball court, replace playground and swings create ADA access and walkways	3	COMPLETED
Bill Moss - Hillcrest Paseo Park	$500,000	Park improvements	5	COMPLETED
Blum Park	$500,000	New playground and swings, improved lighting, repair tennis court and fencing	1	IN PROGRESS
Brian Chappell Park	$600,000	Replace playground, replace walkaway and ADA access, repair/replace seawall	1	COMPLETED
Coleman Park	$385,000	Replace playground and swings	1	IN PROGRESS
Currie Park	$8,122,624	Renovations, improvements, based on community input	1	IN PROGRESS
Dreher Park Master Plan	$40,000		5	NOT STARTED
Dreher Park	$1,000,000	Destination Playground - boundless	5	IN PROGRESS
Echo Lake Park	$300,000	New playground and swings, improved lighting	1	IN PROGRESS
Flagler Trails	$400,000	Amenities	1, 3, 5	NOT STARTED
Fogelman Park	$350,000	new playground and swings, new paths and ADA access	1	IN PROGRESS
Gaines Park Comm. Center	$3,000,000	Community Center expansion and renovation	1	IN PROGRESS
Gaines Park	$1,500,000	Tennis, basketball court repairs, pathway repairs, fencing and lighting	1	IN PROGRESS
George Petty Park	$100,000	Playground	3	IN PROGRESS
Howard Park	$300,000	light playground and walkway to playground	5	IN PROGRESS
Howard Park Tennis Center	$2,500,000	Total rebuild to hydro courts, new fence and lights	5	IN PROGRESS
Jose Marti Park	$200,000	Removal of concrete walls, repair walkways - ADA	3	IN PROGRESS
Lake Mangonia Park	$150,000	Bathroom renovations	1	COMPLETED
Lincoln Park	$400,000	Additional field lighting, fitness station, shade, seating	4	IN PROGRESS
Osprey Park	$600,000	Replace walkways, new playground and swings, replace pavilion, replace dog park fence.	1	IN PROGRESS
Phipps Park	$400,000	Repair Tennis Courts, replace playground, improved lighting at handball, ADA walkways	5	IN PROGRESS
Phipps Park Baseball	$1,300,000	Replace concessions and bathrooms, replace walkways	5	IN PROGRESS
Phipps Skate Park	$600,000	Reconfigure ramps and update	5	IN PROGRESS
South Olive Park	$400,000	Replace playground and ADA walkways	5	COMPLETED
South Olive Tennis	$2,000,000	6 Court conversion to clay - lighting, fencing PHASE 2	5	IN PROGRESS
Sunset Park	$200,000	Replacement playground and swings	1	COMPLETED
Vedado Park	$150,000	New Playground and swings	5	COMPLETED
Village Paws Park	$200,000	New entry and parking	2	IN PROGRESS
Warren Hawkins Aquatic Center	$1,750,000	Rebuild swimming pool and locker rooms to meet swim meet regulation size	1	IN PROGRESS
Waterfront Playground	$200,000	Playground/fitness	3	NOT STARTED
Contract Engineer - Project Management	$750,000	$150,000 for 5 years ... includes vehicle, office space, etc.
Park System Wide Upgrades	$5,000,000
Total Estimated Costs	$35,000,000

Residents and subject matter experts were consulted on what aspects of public parks are critical and should remain priorities.

What is the Total Capital Cost of the Projects?

FINANCIALS

What is a Bond?

Why Does the City Issue Bonds to Pay for City Projects Rather Than Pay for Projects with Cash?

Don’t My Tax Dollars Already Cover These Needs?

Does This Mean I’ll be Paying Additional Taxes?

How is the debt service millage rate calculated?

Millage is the tax rate used to calculate your ad valorem taxes. One mil equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. For example, the existing millage rate for the City’s park bond debt service is .1202, therefore you are paying twelve cents in property taxes for every $1,000 of your taxable property value. For the median priced home of $243,000 within the City that amounts to $29.21 per year($2.43/month). For debt service, the millage is a function of the required annual payment and 95% of the City’s property value.

Will the debt service millage rate be the same every year?

What are the Authorized Uses of Bond Funds?

How Will This New Parks Bond be Paid Off, and How Long Would It Be in Effect?

Is the City Eligible for State or Federal Funding for the Projects?

While the State currently does have a small granting opportunity through the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP), this program has received little to no funding from the State over the past several years. If the State decides to increase investment in the FRDAP, we would match the program contributions with the bond funds to maximize your tax dollars and complete additional park improvements.

ACCOUNTABILITY

How Will I Know Bond Projects are Being Completed and Funds are Being Used Properly?

QUESTIONS/COMMENTS

Who Do I Contact if I Have a Question or Comment About the Parks Bond?