Improvement
Public
Bond The FIRST First Responders
PRODUCTION
Public Communications Department
CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Ki Ki Hobbs
Candice Temple
David L. Williams II
CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS
Alexander Brock
Olivia Glowala
David Marcus
Candice Temple
David L. Williams II
CONTACT US
signaturecity@pbgfl.com
Signature City Questions: 561.799.4152
Main City Line: 561.799.4100
SignatureCity magazine is a free publication produced quarterly by the City of Palm Beach Gardens Public Communications Department. SignatureCity is mailed to every household in Palm Beach Gardens, as well as distributed at city facilities.
Get Social! Follow us on your favorite social media sites
@CityofPBG
@CityofPalmBeachGardensRecreation
@SandhillCraneGolf
@GardensGreenMarket
@CityofPBG
@PBGardensFire
@PBGPD
@CityPBG
@CityofPBG
flickr.com/cityofpalmbeachgardens
Find us on Spotify for a playlist inspired by this issue! Visit www.spotify.com or download the app & search “City of Palm Beach Gardens.”
SPRING 2023
ON THE COVER: You may not recognize him without his hat, but if you play pickleball in the City of Palm Beach Gardens, chances are you know our cover model Tennis & Pickleball Pro Huy Nguyen. Huy has worked for PBG since 2007 and recently won a gold medal in pickleball at the US Open Championship in 5.0 40+ division. Learn what’s next for the growing sport of pickleball in PBG on page 14. Photo by David L. Williams II.
SPRING 2023 3
FEATURES
The Gardens Summer GreenMarket 4 City Briefs 9 Photo Contest Results
Calendar of Events
15th Annual Golf Tournament
Weekly Specials at The Dancing Crane
Fireworks Safety/Drowning Prevention
The FIRST of the First Responders
Featured Art – TEKNO
Around Town - Project Update
Public Improvement Bond
City Social 10 17 14
unique place to live, learn, work and play”
2
10
13
20
5
6
12
16
14
17
“A
Palm Beach Gardens is now a HEARTSafe Community!
Citizen CPR Foundation, a national preparedness program, has designated Palm Beach Gardens as the first HEARTSafe Community in the state of Florida. This accreditation was a joint effort between the Palm Beach Gardens Fire Department and our community. One of the criteria to become HEARTSafe includes training at least 15 percent of the population in CPR each year. Interested in joining our efforts for a safer community? Palm Beach Gardens Fire Rescue and Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center offer a FREE hands-only CPR class to the public on the third Tuesday of each month at Fire Station 61 (4425 Burns Road).
UPCOMING CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS
Thursday, May 4, 2023
Thursday, June 1, 2023
Thursday, July 13, 2023
City Council meetings are generally held on the first Thursday of the month at 6 p.m. in City Council Chambers, first floor, City Hall, 10500 N. Military Trail, unless otherwise scheduled.
Did You Know? Our City Council meetings are streamed live via the City’s website. Can’t make it to the meeting in person? Stay informed from the comfort of your own home!
LiveStream: www.pbgfl.com/LiveStream Archives: www.youtube.com/citypbg
4 SIGNATURE CITY: City of Palm Beach Gardens l pbgfl.com
CITY BRIEFS
(l to r) Councilmembers Robert Premuroso, Dana Middleton, Vice Mayor Carl Woods, Mayor Chelsea Reed & Councilmember Marcie Tinsley.
Fireworks Safety
Fireworks start an average of 19,500 fires and cause 9,100 injuries every year. Many of these injuries, 36% of them, involve children under the age of 15. Here are some ways to safely enjoy them this summer.
• Attend public firework displays and leave the lighting to the professionals.
• Sparklers account for roughly one-quarter of emergency room fireworks injuries. Please only purchase sparklers from the approved list provided by the Florida State Fire Marshal.
• If you do choose to use fireworks, please do so wisely.
* Purchase Fireworks from a licensed, reliable source.
* Do not let children handle fireworks, ever.
* Never relight a dud. Wait five minutes and then douse it with water.
* Only use fireworks in a clear, open area, away from other people.
* Always have a fire extinguisher and water source close by.
Drowning Prevention
More children ages 1-4 die from drowning than any other cause of death. And for children ages 5-14, drowning is the second leading cause of death after motor vehicle accidents.
Drowning deaths are preventable, but it takes a joint effort to accomplish the task of keeping everyone safe. Please follow these tips to maintain safety around the water.
• Designate an adult “Water Watcher” to maintain constant watch over children in the pool during gatherings.
• Never leave a child unattended near water in a tub, pool or ocean. There is no substitute for adult supervision.
• Teach children about water safety and how to swim.
• Don’t consider children “drown proof” because they’ve had swim lessons.
• Remove toys from in and around the pool when not it use.
• Protect everyone by enclosing your pool with a fence and equipping it with alarmed, self-closing gates.
SPRING 2023 5
Source: National Fire Protection Association and Drowning Prevention Coalition of Palm Beach County
NorthCom The FIRST of the First Responders
In the United States of America, there is a phone number that one can arguably say everyone knows by heart: 9…1…1. When this number is called, it’s usually not because it’s the best day of that person’s life; it’s likely one of the worst days. Even though everyone knows this number, very few know what happens behind the scenes and even fewer people know about the individuals who answer those calls.
The City of Palm Beach Gardens Police Department manages the Northern Municipal Regional Communications Center, otherwise known as NorthCom. This is a subsection of the PBG Special Operations Bureau that is managed by Police Major Paul Rogers. Since 2011, the Palm Beach Gardens NorthCom Center provides services to five other emergency communications agencies; these include North Palm Beach, Juno Beach, Jupiter, Jupiter
Inlet Colony and Tequesta. Since crime knows no borders, this NorthCom service has been an effective way to respond to crimes faster.
“With our municipalities that we service, we all work really well together; it’s truly a partnership,” says Major Rogers. “Before, we were all on separate radios and phone systems. Now that we are all on one radio console, if a crime is occurring in Palm
6 SIGNATURE CITY: City of Palm Beach Gardens l pbgfl.com
Written and photographed by David L. Williams II
NorthCom team members hold a sign from National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, which was recognized April 9 – 15, 2023.
Beach Gardens and the suspect is fleeing to Jupiter, we simply hit one button on the radio console and now the police units up in Jupiter can hear what’s coming their way and are able to react and help us catch a criminal.”
Imagine just how busy an emergency communications center can get when dealing with not one, but six different municipalities. Here are the numbers - In 2022, the NorthCom Center processed 318,262 calls for service/incidents. Out of those, operators processed 286,169 emergency telephone calls, including those directly to 911.
So that brings about the question: how many? How many individuals field these calls on the 24/7 basis? The answer to that question: 39. The NorthCom Communications team consists of a total of 39 highly trained State-certified employees. Prior to employment, these individuals attend the dispatch academy at Palm Beach State College and once hired, they complete two additional weeks of advanced training before operating on their own.
All totaled, this would equate to about 33 weeks of training before starting on the call room floor. Even after completion
of the academy and certification, there’s a focus on continual training every six months to keep the foundational structure and procedures fresh for any kind of call they may encounter and to adapt to the new technologies that present themselves along the way.
One of the biggest shifts in the emergency telecommunications service is the transition from landlines to cell phones. In 2020, the National Emergency Number Association conducted a study that showed 80 percent of 911 calls were made from a wireless device, while in 2002, cell phones accounted for only 10 percent of all emergency 911 calls. This drastic change with the use of cell phones over the past two decades is considered both a blessing and a curse for dispatch professionals.
On one hand, the convenience of a cell phone is better for emergency situations; the technology and GPS capabilities of those devices operate at an impressive level and the recently added option of Text-to-911 is available for those who are in situations where the individual is not able to speak freely. On the other hand, technology, while it can be helpful, is not always reliable; it’s important to remember that cell phones are not directly linked to an address, which is why the first question the
SPRING 2023 7
NorthCom Center Call Room Floor
THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN CONTACTING 911
“While texting is a choice, please call us and use your voice!”
When you call, don’t hang up – even if calling on accident – until dispatch has ensured your safety.
Be Cooperative – Be sure dispatch knows your location and comply with their line of questioning.
dispatcher will always ask is “where’s your emergency?” This is key for having a concrete starting point for help to arrive in a timely manner; however, there tends to be a misconception that dispatch has the capability to manipulate satellites to track a person’s every move – this is NOT the case.
In addition, the use of Text-to-911 lacks some factors that typically aid the NorthCom dispatch in determining the best course of action in response to an emergency. The Gardens Police Department has a saying: “while texting is a choice, please call us and use your voice.” The additional information the dispatcher can gather from speaking with a person on the phone is marginally more helpful than receiving text messages. Hearing the environment and the inflection or tone of the caller’s voice is key to not only making a quick decision but also the correct decision on how to best approach any emergency. This point leads to one of the more common misconceptions about dispatch workers that deal with their Line of Questioning.
It’s understandable that in situations of crisis it’s easy to lose level-headedness. Dispatchers are trained to undergo a methodical line of questioning to further aid them in sending the appropriate resources to save lives. Most of the time, the answers to the questions can determine what is asked next. However, during this process, callers tend to get frustrated.
One of the biggest areas of development in dispatch training is the ability to remain calm while conducting this line of questioning. The emotions can range differently on a plethora of levels, but navigating that conversation takes an extensive amount of training. The City of Palm Beach Gardens is proud of the team that work tirelessly to ensure that anyone in an emergency gets the help they need in a timely manner.
8 SIGNATURE CITY: City of Palm Beach Gardens l pbgfl.com
It’s important to remember that this is not just a job, it’s a profession,” Assistant Emergency Communications Manager Donna Ross said. “Our dispatch team goes through a tremendous amount of training, and they are ready when they are called to serve in the best possible manner. It’s essentially a partnership between the citizens and between the dispatchers, and we must learn to trust each other so we can receive the right information to save lives.”
Assistant Emergency Communications Manager Donna Ross
Emergency Communications Operator Jenifer Harris
CONGRATS TO OUR 2022 RESIDENT PHOTOGRAPHY Contest
Winners!
iGardens
1ST PLACE Fairway Sunrise, Brad Sprayberry
2ND PLACE Great Heron Awing, Brad Sprayberry
3RD PLACE ................... Cielo en Fuego, Mark Tinio
HONORABLE MENTION ..... Rays of Color, Joeri Carty
HONORABLE MENTION Vanda Orchid, Denise Hensel
HONORABLE MENTION Bismarck Palm, Diane Cashman
Beauty Abounds
1ST PLACE .................... Persian Silk Tree, Brad Sprayberry
2ND PLACE Great Blue Heron Flying, Deborah Kerr
3RD PLACE Hyacinths in Repose, Brad Sprayberry
HONORABLE MENTION New and Impressive, Diane Cappella
HONORABLE MENTION ..... Sunset from PGA National #1, Lou Mark
Digital Manipulation
1ST PLACE Extreme Manipulation of Sunset, Lou Mark
2ND PLACE Fountain and Flowers, Walter Mularz
3RD PLACE ................... Pink Twilight, Eric Thomelet
HONORABLE MENTION ..... Pretty in Yellow, Marilyn Samwick
HONORABLE MENTION Pretty Redhead, Marilyn Samwick
HONORABLE MENTION View of Pond, Walter Mularz
PBG at Work & Play
1ST PLACE .................... Duncan Class of 2022, Courtney Hess
2ND PLACE Workers Up High at FPL New Buildin, Lou Mark
3RD PLACE The Groundskeeper, Brad Sprayberry
Best in Show
Sunset from PGA National #2 .. Lou Mark
Mayor’s Choice
Pink Twilight Eric Thomelet
SPRING 2023 9
Extreme Manipulation of Sunset Lou Mark FIRST PLACE DIGITAL MANIPULATION Great
Deborah Kerr SECOND PLACE - BEAUTY ABOUNDS
Pink Twilight Eric Thomelet MAYOR’S CHOICE
Blue Heron Flying
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT... Want to enter our Resident Photography Contest? Announcements will be made in Signature City magazine, the City website and social media. Start taking photos NOW and be prepared to submit them when entries are accepted in mid-July to early September.
Calendar of Events
NOW-MAY 24
GardensArt Exhibition
Felipe Thompson: “Mad Artist”
Abstracts & Fluid Art
Hours Vary; call 561.630.1100 Burns Road Community Center
NOW-JUNE 1
GardensArt Exhibition
Diane Prater: “Intelligent Design: Inspired Treasures from the Sea”
Watercolors
Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at City Hall
NOW-AUGUST 15
GardensArt Exhibition
Christopher Warren: “Essence of the Palm Beaches”
Photography
Dawn to Dusk
Sandhill Crane Golf Clubhouse
MAY
MAY IS STROKE AWARENESS MONTH!
Details at www.pbgfl.com/ strokeawareness
MAY 1, 8, 15, 22
Tour Chasers Clinic
4:30 – 6 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
MAY 3, 10, 17, 24
Get Golf Ready Clinic
12 – 1 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
MAY 3, 10, 17, 24
After School Clinic
5 – 6 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
MAY 6, 13, 20, 27
Junior Drop-In Clinic
9 – 10 a.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
Get Golf Ready Clinic
12 – 1 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club
MAY 16
FREE Hands-Only CPR Class
6 p.m. at Fire Station 61
MAY 23
Special Magistrate Hearing
2 – 5 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
MAY 23-25
Tennis & Pickleball Center
Courts closed for maintenance
MAY 29
Memorial Day Ceremony 9 a.m.
Veterans Plaza Amphitheater
JUNE 3, 10, 17, 24
Junior Drop-In Clinic
9 – 10 a.m.
Get Golf Ready Clinic
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
JUNE 4, 11, 18, 25
The Gardens GreenMarket
Sponsored in good health by Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
8 a.m. – 1 p.m. City Hall Municipal Campus
JUNE 5 - AUGUST 17
GardensArt Exhibition
Barry Zelikson: “My Travels”
Oils on Canvas
Weekdays, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. at City Hall
MAY 30 – AUGUST 4
Camp Gardens Summer Camps
M-F, Various Locations & Times
More info at pbgrec.com/camp
JUNE
JUNE 1
The Gardens GreenMarket
Sponsored in good health by Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
City Hall Municipal Campus
City Council Meeting 6 p.m. at City Hall
JUNE 5 – AUG 20
Summer Swim Lessons
M-Su, Various Sessions & Times
Aquatic Complex
More info at pbgrec.com/ aquatics
JUNE 6, 7, 8
Summer Camp #1
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
JUNE 6, 13, 20, 27
Splash into Storytime on Toddler Tuesdays
9 – 10:55 a.m.
Aquatic Complex
JUNE 7
Palm Beach Day Cruise
10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
More info at pbgrec.com/ programs
JUNE 8
GardensArt Reception for Barry Zelikson
5:30 – 7 p.m. City Hall
10 SIGNATURE CITY: City of
l pbgfl.com
Palm Beach Gardens
JUNE 13, 14, 15
Summer Camp #2
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
JUNE 17
Adult One Day Singles
Tennis Tournament
11 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Tennis & Pickleball Center
JUNE 20, 21, 22
Summer Camp #3
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
JUNE 20
FREE Hands-Only CPR Class
6 p.m. at Fire Station 61
JUNE 25
Felipe Thompson
Live Art Demo at The Gardens GreenMarket
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
City Hall Municipal Campus
JUNE 27, 28, 29
Summer Camp #4
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
JUNE 27
Special Magistrate Hearing
2 – 5 p.m.
City Hall Council Chambers
JUNE 27-AUGUST 28
GardensArt Exhibition
Christopher Warren: “Essence of the Palm Beaches”
Photography
M-Th 7:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri 7:30 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Sat & Sun 7:30 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tennis & Pickleball Clubhouse
*Hours may vary due to special events or other programs
JULY
JULY IS PARK & RECREATION MONTH!
Celebrate Every Sunday at The Gardens Greenmarket
JULY 2, 9, 16, 23, 30
The Gardens GreenMarket
Sponsored in good health by Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
8 a.m. – 1 p.m.
City Hall Municipal Campus
JULY 4
Party at the Pool!
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Aquatic Complex
JULY 8, 15
Junior Drop-In Clinic
9 – 10 a.m
Get Golf Ready Clinic
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
JULY 8
Adult One Day Mixed Doubles
Tennis Tournament
10:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
Tennis & Pickleball Center
JULY 9-13
USTA 16U Boys Clay Court National Championships
9 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Tennis & Pickleball Center
JULY 11, 18, 25
Splash into Storytime on Toddler Tuesdays
9 – 10:55 a.m.
Aquatic Complex
JULY 11, 12, 13
Summer Camp #5
8 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
JULY 13
City Council Meeting
6 p.m. at City Hall
JULY 18
FREE Hands-Only CPR Class
6 p.m. at Fire Station 61
JULY 18, 19, 20
Summer Camp #6
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Sandhill Crane Golf Club Training Center
JULY 27
GardensArt Reception for Christopher Warren
6 – 7:30 p.m. Tennis & Pickleball Clubhouse
Ongoing:
EVERY SUNDAY The Gardens GreenMarket Sponsored in good health by Palm Beach Gardens Medical Center
8 a.m.-1 p.m. City Hall Municipal Campus
EVERY TUESDAY
June-July
Splash into Storytime on Toddler Tuesdays 9-10:55 a.m. at the Aquatic Complex
IMPORTANT ADDRESSES: Burns Road Community Center/Aquatic Complex 4404 Burns Road
City Hall Municipal Campus/ Veterans Plaza Amphitheater 10500 N. Military Trail
Sandhill Crane Golf Club 9500 Sandhill Crane Drive
Tennis & Pickleball Center Clubhouse/ Center Court Café 5110 117th Court N.
SPRING 2023 11
APRIL S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 MAY S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 JUNE S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 JULY S M T W T F S 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Traveling Companions by Diane Prater
Wonderland by Christopher Warren
TEKNO
Written by Ki Ki Hobbs
For a stationary piece of art, TEKNO seemingly vibrates with energy. The 22-foot, red and white sculpture appears as though it was frozen midmotion, so it comes as no surprise to discover the artist behind TEKNO, Alexander Krivosheiw, describes it as a “living work of art and technology that is always in motion.”
Located at the Alton Town Center, TEKNO is comprised of welded and painted aluminum. It’s one of five sculptures by Krivosheiw that are now part of an art walk at Alton Town Center.
As Krivosheiw’s description suggests, TEKNO transforms throughout the day. The sculpture appears menacing in the daylight with its bold, red accents and sharp jagged lines. At night, it softens, emitting a glow that helps it stand out against the surrounding greenery. The red and white
paint, coupled with the blue light, represent the colors of the United States’ flag as well as unity.
Born in New York City, New York, Krivosheiw creates sculptures that occupy the space between abstraction and representation. He draws inspiration from several sources ranging from Greek culture and modern design. However, the idea behind this sculpture was inspired by techno music, a genre known for its quick beats and frantic energy. He believes dance is a universal language that has the power to unite individual people and help them experience a common ground. In a similar way, TEKNO consists of several isolated forms that come together to form one, powerful piece of art.
12 SIGNATURE CITY: City of Palm Beach Gardens l pbgfl.com
Photograph by Alexander Brock
TOURNAMENT GOLF ...also join us next year at The Country Club at Mirasol Saturday, October 19, 2024 The Foundation provides funding for: Save the Date • October 21, 2023 Palm Beach Gardens Police & Fire Rescue Foundation (PBGPFRF) is a 501(c)3 corporation. BALLENISLE S COUNTRY CLU B PALM BEACH GARDEN S OCTOBER 21, 202 3 EDUCATION TRAINING EQUIPMENT & NEW TECHNOLOGY COMMUNITY OUTREACH EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PLEASE HELP SUPPORT THE PALM BEACH GARDENS FIRST RESPONDERS! Foursome Registration Opens Early Summer! Sponsorship Opportunities Open Now! Contact Irwin F. Edenzon at info@pbgpoliceandfirefoundation.org or find more details online at PBGPoliceAndFireFoundation.org
THE CITY’S PUBLIC IMPROVEMENT BOND & HOW IT WILL BE USED
On March 2, 2023, the Palm Beach Gardens City Council approved the issuance of a $20 million public improvement bond. A public improvement bond is a revenue bond, not an ad valorem tax bond. This means there is no increased tax impact to residents.
Burns Road Community Center Modernization and Expansion Project Budget: $10 Million
Often referred to as “The Heart of Palm Beach Gardens,” the Burns Road Community Center has served in a growing capacity since 1983. As the Gardens community blooms, the time has come to re-envision the role this facility plays for residents and visitors.
Through a 2020 Service Analysis Survey, the Recreation Department gathered valuable input that allowed it to dive deeper into the programs the community wanted. Through that process, the City learned that adults desired more opportunities for fine and technical art education, educational learning, social interactions and fitness/wellness classes. For youth, there was also a request for fine and technical art education, but the community also felt strongly about dance, theater, STEM, cooking, and toddler enrichment programs, in addition to parent/youth programs.
Since then, the plan has been moving along. In May of 2022, the City Council approved the hiring of an architect to create a plan that would modernize and expand Burns Road Community Center.
Space planning for the future includes multi-use spaces, STEM ready rooms, facilities to support progressive art, social areas, a targeted tot space, wellness studios and additional workspace for a growing staff. The expanded facility will host two separate art studios that will become the focal point of the cultural arts history in the Gardens community. The architecture plan includes many things that were not considered in 1983, such as increased customer service through technology, workforce and family support, and security measurements.
The public improvement bond would allow for additional funding of $10 million to make up for the projected shortfall for this project.
“The Center has served Palm Beach Gardens with programs and activities that have created community,” says Leisure Services Administrator Charlotte Presensky. “The planned expansion will continue this tradition providing families and individuals with recreational options that will enhance their lives and create memories.”
PROJECT SCOPE: The current 43,114 square foot building will be partially demolished, leaving the gymnasiums intact. Currently a one-story building, the demolished portion will be replaced by a two-story structure. The Burns Road Community Center building will be closed for the entire period of construction starting in September 2023.
14 SIGNATURE CITY: City of Palm Beach Gardens l pbgfl.com
Oaks Park Pickleball Courts
Project Budget: $1 Million
It’s hard to live in Palm Beach Gardens and not hear the word “pickleball” pop up from time to time. That’s because nationwide, the sport has seen a boom and our residents are on board with the movement. Palm Beach Gardens Tennis and Pickleball Center has seen membership double! The courts located at Lilac Park are also found to be full almost every morning and every night.
Due to the high demand for the sport and resident communication requesting more resources for pickleball, the City will use a portion of the public improvement bond funding to expedite a plan to provide more public play and membership play opportunities. Staff has identified Oaks Park as a centric location with available public park space to support 12 new courts. The park will also get its first restroom and additional parking.
“As the fastest-growing sport for adults and youth, the courts planned for Oaks Park will offset the demand for court time in our community,” says Leisure Services Administrator Charlotte Presensky. “These courts will be open to the public when finished and will surely become a popular spot nestled among the oak trees for those who play the game.”
PROJECT SCOPE: Improvements will include 12 public play hard courts, a restroom and parking at Oaks Park.
Kyoto Gardens Drive Bridge Widening Project
Project Budget: $8 Million
Kyoto Gardens Drive, located north of PGA Boulevard between Miliary Trail and Alt A1A, acts as a reliever street for east-west travelers near PGA Boulevard. Kyoto Gardens provides valuable access points to I-95 north, Miliary Trail, Alternate A1A, and RCA Center Drive. This roadway has been useful to lower the traffic impact on the PGA Boulevard corridor since its inception in 2008, while providing an outstanding level of traffic service.
With population growth in the City and the planned development of approximately 1 million square feet of office space at the FPL complex adjacent to Kyoto Gardens Drive, and future growth within the City’s Downtown District, the City is proactively planning ways to maintain the high level of service desired for this roadway. The Engineering Department is currently evaluating alternatives to widen the roadway and bridge near Military Trail.
These improvements will include additional turn lanes in the southbound and westbound directions, signal modifications, bike lanes, median modifications, multimodal sidewalks, utility & bridge impacts, and the possibility of a dedicated multimodal path across the Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District lake system. Preliminary cost estimates expected for these improvements are approximately $8 million. The Public Improvement Bond is essential to cover the construction of this project.
These alternatives will be evaluated for meeting the objectives of the City’s mobility plan and constructability of the roadway section to minimize the impacts to the adjoining major roadways all while maintaining the project budget. This project will be a multi-agency collaboration requiring planning through: Florida Department of Transportation, Palm Beach County Roadway, Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, Florida Power and Light, Seacoast Utility Authority and adjacent HOA’s. The project is slated for completion in the next two years.
PROJECT SCOPE: Westbound: a 5-foot sidewalk, 4-foot bike lane, one right turn lane, one through lane and two dedicated left turn lanes. Eastbound: two through/receiving lanes to accommodate two southbound left turn from Military Trail, one 4-foot bike lane and one 8-foot sidewalk.
SPRING 2023 15
Your resource for the burning question: “What are they building over there?”
Ritz-Carlton Residences
Luxury condos are coming to the Palm Beach Gardens PGA Waterfront. The Ritz-Carlton Residences are being constructed along the intracoastal at the intersection of PGA Boulevard and Ellison Wilson Road. The 11-acre parcel of land, which was recently annexed into the City, will include three, seven-story residential buildings with 106 units as well as a private marina with 29 boat slips. The Ritz-Carlton Residences are currently under construction and are anticipated to be completed in the third quarter of 2025.
Street Address: 11401 Ellison Wilson Road
PGA Station
Construction is moving along at the PGA Station residential apartment building along Design Center Drive, just east of RCA Boulevard. The eight-story building will have nearly 400 units, including 40 units of workforce housing, and an adjacent parking garage with over 600 spaces. A new eight-story office building is also being constructed at PGA Station in addition to another parking garage with over 1,000 spaces. The ground floor of the parking garage will have 7,000 square feet of retail and food service space. Once complete, PGA Station will offer more space for offices, shopping and living. It is also adjacent to a proposed future Tri-Rail station, which’ll allow Palm Beach Gardens residents to travel to West Palm Beach and Miami without having to drive.
Street Address: Design Center Drive and RCA Center Drive
16 SIGNATURE CITY: City of Palm Beach Gardens l pbgfl.com Generously sponsored by BallenIsles Charities Foundation, Inc. and Frenchman’s Creek Charities Foundation, Inc. AROUND TOWN
GET THE DETAILS! To keep up with development around the City, visit our Project Location Map at www.pbgfl.com/ProjectMap.
City Social
SWEETHEART DANCE
SPRING 2023 17
18 SIGNATURE CITY: City of Palm Beach Gardens l pbgfl.com
EGG HUNT
SPRING 2023 19
MIRACLE LEAGUE OPENING DAY
PUBLIC SAFETY DAY
City of Palm Beach Gardens
10500 N Military Trail
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410