Commission weighs how to spend parks impact fees, with beach CRA dollars eyed for Charno Park

Hollywood City commissioners on Wednesday debated how to allocate remaining parks impact-fee balances and unspent Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) dollars, with several members urging a mix of citywide, district-targeted and priority-project spending.

Commissioners heard staff say the Parks and Recreation impact-fee fund would have about $3.7 million available after previously authorized work such as restrooms at Poinciana Park. Commissioners discussed two competing approaches: divide remaining impact-fee dollars evenly among commission districts so each can propose local park investments, or concentrate funds on a named priority such as improving Charno Park on the beach.

“Spreading the love across the entire city is the most important,” Vice Mayor Quintana said, arguing for an equitable split but also for a workshop to match needs to dollars. Commissioner Calari and others urged prioritizing maintenance and security at beach properties as the Beach CRA sunsets.

Several commissioners proposed specific uses. Commissioner Schuham asked staff to solicit proposals to replace the aging splash pad at Charno Park and noted staff had flagged a $1.2 million budget estimate for a brand-new splash pad at Arch/Arts Park; Parks Director Rick Engel said renderings would be the first step if the commission wants to proceed. Engel also told the commission that all existing splash pads are currently operating and that sites using recycled-water systems can be replaced with freshwater systems to reduce recurring maintenance costs.

Parking for existing neighborhood parks was a recurring concern. Commissioners advised staff to consider buying adjacent property or arranging shared-parking agreements (for example with nearby churches or businesses) rather than dispersing funds only into new small parks. Commissioner Hernandez emphasized that improving parking at heavily used sites such as Dowdy Field and John Williams Park should be considered before creating new pocket parks.

Several commissioners urged pairing park projects with green-infrastructure or stormwater improvements where feasible. Vice Mayor Quintana highlighted the parks master plan’s “10-minute walk” and green-infrastructure goals and asked staff to prioritize neighborhoods with low park access. Commissioners noted the legal and timing limits attached to some grants and said staff should return with options and timelines so funds are not forfeited.

On CRA funds for the beach, staff reported a roughly $11 million balance with about $2 million remaining after proposed items; commissioners flagged Charno Park (also referred to as Charnow/Charnell in discussion) as a likely beach priority and asked staff to return concept renderings. Commissioners also asked for clearer unit costs on proposed security measures such as bollards before committing funds.

Why it matters: The City has a one-time pool of capital that can either be spread across many small improvements or concentrated on high-profile projects that change major public spaces. Commissioners signaled interest in a hybrid approach and asked staff to return with cost estimates, renderings, timelines and legal constraints so the commission can make final allocations.

Next steps: Staff will return with renderings and detailed cost breakdowns for recommended splash-pad replacements, proposed Charnow/Charno Park concepts, and options for parking or property acquisition. Commissioners asked for a crystallized plan by September to meet grant or contract timelines where applicable.