The Hollywood Community Redevelopment Agency on Nov. 5 ratified submission of a Land and Water Conservation Fund application to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for Keating Park, authorizing the city to accept up to $750,000 in grant funds and to provide a 50% match if the grant is awarded.

The grant ratification was approved by the board unanimously. Board Member Schuham moved to ratify and Vice Chair Quintana seconded the motion.

Why it matters: The grant, if awarded, could fund improvements to Keating Park that the CRA and staff say will anchor the downtown and beach districts. Board members pressed staff to be clear about how any new playground or splash pad would be sited and how matching funds, permitting and long-term maintenance would be managed.

Project presentation and cost outlook
Chris Crisitto, project manager with the CRA, told the board the area under consideration is about 800 square feet. A vendor used by Parks & Rec provided a turnkey estimate including site work, port‑in‑place surfacing and equipment. Crisitto summarized: “Preliminarily you’re looking at a little over $230,000,” split roughly into $24,000 of site/fencing work, about $200,000 for equipment and installation, and roughly $14,000 for freight, shop drawings and permitting.

Crisitto cautioned that underground utilities — an existing water line, irrigation/drip equipment, a backflow preventer and electrical conduit — would have to be relocated or worked around as part of site preparation. He also noted the area’s slope and that ADA-compliant surfacing and fall zones usually require port‑in‑place surfacing or engineered surfacing rather than grass.

Board reactions and alternatives
Board members agreed on keeping the project simple but differed on priorities. Board Member Calari suggested a modest swing set or equipment under an existing pavilion to reduce disturbance and cost. Rick Engel, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Arts director, said modern playgrounds typically require ADA-compliant surfacing and fall zones, which drives up costs: “You can no longer go with just grass and sand because of ADA requirements,” he said.

Board Member Gruber and others urged consideration of a single water feature (a splash pad) as a stronger draw for beach visitors if costs were comparable. Several members asked staff to return with a breakdown of equipment vs. installation costs and a lower-cost concept that would reuse existing covered areas if feasible.

What the board directed
The CRA approved the Keating Park grant application (resolution) and authorized staff to pursue the funding up to the amounts stated. Separately, staff was asked to return with refined cost breakdowns, alternative lower-cost concepts (including use of an existing pavilion area), permitting considerations related to the coastal construction control line, and a schedule estimate. No final design or commitment to build a playground was made in the meeting.

Quotes
“Preliminarily you’re looking at a little over $230,000,” Chris Crisitto said of the vendor estimate. Rick Engel said, “You can no longer go with just grass and sand because of ADA requirements.”

Next steps
Staff will provide a more detailed cost breakdown and siting analysis, including options that minimize excavation or use existing covered areas. Any decision to spend grant or local match dollars must return to the board for final approval.