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DDA board directs staff to work with neighbors on Veterans Park plan
Summary
The Delray Beach Downtown Development Authority unanimously approved a motion directing staff to work with the Palm Trail neighborhood, Historic Preservation Trust and city staff to develop a vision and bullet-point plan for revitalizing Veterans Park, with community and city follow-up expected at a joint workshop.
The Downtown Development Authority voted Nov. 10 to ask DDA staff to work with the Palm Trail neighborhood and the Delray Beach Historic Preservation Trust on a short- and long-term plan to reactivate Veterans Park.
DDA staff presented photographs and observations about the park—s current condition, noting utility boxes, a fountain that needs maintenance and a frequently flooded walkway under the Atlantic Avenue bridge. Assistant City Manager Jeff Horace said he would check parks-and-recreation and GEO-bond funds for near-term maintenance and would report back to the board.
Residents who spoke during public comment urged a community-driven plan. "This is a public park," a neighborhood representative said during the meeting. Mark Ronald, who described himself as a project manager, offered a volunteer-led planning process and asked the DDA for endorsement: "Let us develop a plan in conjunction with you," he said, offering periodic reviews so no money would be spent without city approval.
Price Patton of the Historic Preservation Trust urged the board to widen participation and to consider historic designation: "The park turned 100 years old last year," he said, and urged the DDA to review the trust—s historic designation report submitted to staff.
After discussion about whether to wait for the Atlantic Crossing redevelopment, the board member leading the motion asked staff (Laura and a neighborhood liaison) to prepare bullet points and recommended actions to present at a planned joint DDA/city workshop. A roll call vote followed and the motion passed.
Next steps: staff will coordinate neighborhood input, consult the Historic Preservation Trust report, check possible maintenance funding sources with the city, and return to the board with a packaged set of bullet points and recommendations for the joint workshop and the DDA—s December meeting.
