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.

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.