Residents press Boca Raton leaders for safer, cleaner downtown and guarantees for tennis courts

Public comment at the May 7 Boca Raton strategic planning workshop brought local quality‑of‑life concerns into the city’s long‑range conversation.

Monique Rambo, who gave her address as Southeast Mizer Boulevard, thanked the city for stepped‑up speed enforcement downtown but said more is needed to make the area truly walkable. “Boca continues to be a dangerous place to walk and bike,” Rambo said, urging lower speed limits and no‑right‑on‑red at major intersections and more visible enforcement of crosswalks. She also asked the city to add trash bins along Palmetto and A1A to reduce litter near the beach.

Earlier in public comment, Robert Duquesne urged better transparency and neighborhood notification for rezonings and site‑plan amendments, and he raised a public‑safety concern about a proposed four‑lane road through a large public park.

Judy Morrow, speaking on behalf of tennis players who signed a petition to “save Boca Raton Tennis Center,” reported that the community is anxious after staff presentations showed multiple plan options with fewer courts. “We already have 10; what guarantee do we have that we’re going to get eight?” Morrow asked, requesting a clear commitment or timeline from the city on how many courts will remain in downtown options.

Facilitators and the mayor responded that the two‑day workshop is meant to stay high‑level and that precise design details — including the number of courts or specific traffic control measures — will be addressed through follow‑up planning work and future public engagement. The speakers asked staff to factor these public concerns into the campus master plan discussion.