Live in east Tamarac? If you or your family are looking for a nearby playground and park – look West.
Problem is, it seems as though the East part of Tamarac has been forgotten as far as the parks go. There are many fabulous parks in Tamarac including the newly built Skate park. We also have the Caporella Aquatic center with the great water playground, but it’s not open year round. What the kids want and need is a playground with playground equipment.
I was looking for a park close to the Woodlands, so I contacted the Parks and Recreation Department they informed me that the closest one to the Woodlands is Caporella Park, which has the same name as the aquatic center, which is off Prospect Road.
Getting to Caporella park is no picnic: The park is not close, in fact it’s east of 441, on the outskirts of the City. It looks tired and their small playground area needs an update. I wouldn’t even consider this a local park as it’s almost 5 miles away from the Woodlands or a 15 minute drive if you are heading east on Commercial Blvd.
There must be something closer. That’s why I got excited when I saw a sign for a new park going up on Commercial East of Pine Island Road. This location isn’t exactly close to the Woodlands, but a park here would be nice. I emailed Greg Warner, Director of the City of Tamarac’s with Parks and Recreation department about it, and he wrote, “The parcel on the corner of Commercial and Pine Island will not be developed until funding becomes available. I do not have a date for that. When it is developed, it will be a passive “pocket” park, but we do not have any definitive plans as to what will go there. Not big enough for many amenities and no direct parking for it. “
The next closest park with a playground is Sunset Park, near the Sawgrass. It’s 6 miles away, then there is Tephford Park which is 7 miles away. All are on the western fringes of Tamarac.
In total, there are four parks west of Pine Island Road, including the aquatic center. Unbelievably, there are no parks with playgrounds from Nob Hill all the way to Prospect Road.
The other day, my friend Nichole Geisser, who moved into Woodmont in Tamarac from Davie expressed disappointment in the lack of playground equipment for her two children. She told me that I had to look at the newly remodeled Florence Hardy Park on North Andrews Avenue near where she works in Fort Lauderdale. I wouldn’t have thought there would be a need for a children’s park in this busy downtown area, but I was wrong. On a weekday morning this beautiful park was bustling with families and children. The equipment was beautiful, functional and fun and there was astroturf all around.
Florence Hardy Park Addition – 600 SE 3rd Avenue
The Florence Hardy Park Addition was funded through a Florida Communities Trust Grant, the County Bond and City of Fort Lauderdale funds. Some of the amenities that are in the park are a small and medium picnic pavilion, a children’s inclusive playground (ADA Compliant), basketball court, sand volleyball court, half-mile trail with three fitness stations that meander through a native plant garden.
While grants, bonds and city funds will get a park built, they aren’t enough. Additionally, Tamarac would need to buy land to install new parks in the East.
One suggestion? Buy part of the land from the Sabal Palm Golf Course and turn that into a city park. By purchasing the land once owned by developers Bruce and Shawn Chait, which is now owned by an investment company, the city could do something good after the disastrous corruption charges involving the Chait’s and city and country officials.
Tamarac should take notes from our neighbor to the south, the Town of Davie, which resembles Tamarac in their unusually wide east-west city limits. They provide an equal amount of parks for each side of Davie and are well-known for buying land and turning it into parks as well as walking and riding trails. According to Davie Mayor Judy Paul, “We have tried to keep a balance so that all our residents can experience the open space. We have many parks on the east side, but previous development creates limits. As we redevelop the older areas the requirements include ample open space.” Turning this neglected wasteland of the former Sabal Palms golf course would please the residents that lost their beautiful views to the shady contractor and offer the residents on the east side, much needed public open space.
Tamarac’s slogan is “The City for your life” but I can’t help but feel that life only exists in our Western fringes. Recreational areas must be created on the East side so we can attract and sustain the next generation of families.