Oakland Park presents five‑year capital improvement plan, highlights $70 million in grants

City officials on June 18 presented a five‑year capital improvement program and facility update to the Oakland Park City Commission, laying out completed projects, grant funding secured since 2015 and a pipeline of work the city expects to incorporate into its FY 2026 budget.

The presentation by Sierra Marrero, director of engineering and community development, and Albert Carbon, public works director, underscored grant funding and bond proceeds that have supported projects across parks, public safety, sidewalks and facilities. Marrero told the commission, “we have obtained almost $70,000,000 in grant awards, since 2015.”

The plan matters because it both documents near‑term construction that will affect neighborhoods and parks and feeds into the city’s budget process. City Manager Hebert told the commission the CIP is the first public step in a multi‑stage budget process and that the presentation will be incorporated into the budget recommendation to be delivered next month.

Most notable figures and near‑term items - Grants and bond history: Marrero said the city has secured roughly $70 million in grant awards since 2015. She also noted the 2018 facilities bond originally totaled $40 million; roughly $5 million to $7 million of the original bond remains unallocated. - Completed projects (selected): North Andrews Gardens community center (about $250,000 in grants); Harlem McBride community garden (about $180,000); WAG dog park added with CDBG funding of about $400,000; Oakland Park Elementary Safe Routes sidewalks (just under $3 million in grants); Lakeside sidewalk project (about $1.2 million); Fire Station 9 (about $2.5 million in grant funds); citywide paving (about $3 million in grants). Marrero summarized many of these as completed work that built capacity. - Ongoing and near‑term projects: Sky Building tenant improvements and relocation of city administrative functions (temporary certificate of occupancy granted; tenant fit‑out expected to finish by end of summer 2025); Collins Building renovations (about $2.5 million in awards) to temporarily house library services during moves; Thirteenth Avenue sidewalk and drainage improvements (projected to enter construction after bids are evaluated); Veterans Park improvements (about $400,000 in grants) including an asphalt trail, kayak launch, lighting and parking improvements; Royal Palm Park trail rehabilitation (grant under $500,000) with pedestrian lighting and root‑mitigation work; Stevens Field improvements funded by a roughly $1 million Land and Water Conservation Fund award for a new restroom and field upgrades. - Facilities and operations: Public works staff and equipment have moved into a new public works complex and the new facility will serve as the city’s emergency operations center, Carbon said. Marrero and Carbon also previewed plans for additional park improvements, Centennial Park phases and hardening work at existing fire stations.

Staff and commissioners discussed implementation details and risks. Marrero flagged construction cost escalation since 2020 and credited the grants team—she cited Anna Alvarez, Claudel Rose and Melissa Alvarado—for helping secure outside funding. Hebert cautioned about external risks, telling commissioners that federal or state agencies could change funding availability: “there may be movement to try to claw back grants,” he said, and he asked the commission to be mindful that a multi‑year plan depends on commitments from outside agencies.

Commissioners generally praised staff for the work, asked clarifying questions about remaining bond funds and the status of Fire Station 87 hardening, and asked staff to review a local roadway near Fire Station 87 after members raised safety concerns about vehicle collisions at that location.

What’s next Staff said the CIP presentation will be incorporated into the official budget recommendation to be submitted in July; many items discussed will require subsequent design, permitting and construction steps and may rely on grant or other outside funding. Marrero and Carbon told the commission they will continue regular updates and coordinate sequencing of projects to limit community impacts.

Ending The update provided a roadmap for the city’s capital work and a list of projects staff expects to prioritize as the commission considers the FY 2026 budget. Commissioners and staff said they will continue to refine timelines and funding plans as grant commitments and construction bids are finalized.