Central Broward Regional Park
Opens November 9

The long-awaited Central Regional Park, 3700 N.W. 11 Place, Lauderhill, will open with a grand opening ceremony on Friday, November 9, 4 p.m.

The 110-acre multi-purpose park is the first County regional park to be funded through the 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond program. Additional funding was provided through a $5 million grant from the state’s Florida Forever initiative.

The site includes a variety of features: a circular, lighted multi-purpose main event field with 5,000 covered seats and additional seating for 15,000 spectators; four lighted soccer/football fields that can also be used as two cricket fields; tennis and basketball courts; an aquatics complex (opening in 2008), a boat rental facility, pavilions, restrooms, a nature trail and two large, covered playgrounds. The main field is expected to host sporting competitions, concerts and other special events.

Future park amenities will include a waterfall, a public art feature and a cultural center, to be operated by the City of Lauderhill. A branch of the Broward County Library is also planned.

New West Regional Library
Opens in Plantation

Broward County’s newest library, the West Regional Library, 8601 W. Broward Blvd., Plantation, opened following a dedication ceremony in late October. The new library, which replaced an existing facility, is the 25th library funded through the 1999 Library Bond program.

The new 70,000 square foot library is integrated into a master-planned campus incorporating the library, a 150-car parking deck, the West Regional Courthouse, the County’s Emergency Operations Center, a bus terminal and a park.

Architectural features of the new $14.5 million library include a two-story glass interior curtain wall between the lobby and library area that creates an open transparent feeling. One of the most spectacular aspects of the library is the 25,000 square-foot brick-paved plaza overlooking a lake. A granite boulder in the middle of the plaza surrounded by precision-cut granite benches and spherical, sodded earth mounds have been incorporated into the outdoor landscape as part of the Public Art and Design program. The new facility features 100 public use computers, a multi-purpose room, three group study rooms, five tutoring rooms, a children’s storytelling/program room, large and small conference rooms and a wireless hotspot.

The West Regional Library is open Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

T.Y. Park Reopens in Hollywood
After $10 Million Renovation

Topeekeegee Yugnee (T.Y.) 3300 N. Park Road, Hollywood, reopened in late October after nearly a year of renovations. The 150-acre park includes a new swimming facility, a new gatehouse, RV sites, new restrooms, newly-paved pathways and new landscaping. The park includes a Safety Village designed to teach pedestrian and bicycle safety to children. A nearby marina offers rental boats and the entire park is now accessible to persons with disabilities. Ninety percent of the $10 million renovation project was financed through the 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond program.

Everglades Holiday Park
Subject of Public Forum

The Broward County Parks and Recreation Division will conduct a public forum on Everglades Holiday Park on Wednesday, November 14, 7-10 p.m., BankAtlantic Center, One Panther Parkway, Sunrise. The meeting is scheduled to provide the public with an opportunity to offer suggestions, voice concerns and ask questions about the recreational needs of the park.

Broward County is collecting information related to the park in order to develop a vision of the optimal opportunities for public recreation in the area. The vision must not only reflect the recreational needs of residents and visitors, but also recognize environmental and regulatory constraints, as well as historical concerns. Everglades Holiday Park is a regional Broward County facility, located at 21940 Griffin Road, Southwest Ranches, one-half mile west of US 27.

Subscribe to Free Hurricane
Update eMail System

To subscribe to Broward County’s free Hurricane Update eMail System, visit www.broward.org/hurricane. The system provides residents with important information from the Broward County Emergency Operations Center before, during and after a hurricane. eMail notifications will be sent to subscribers with news about hurricane watches and warnings, evacuation orders, recommended protective actions and related public safety information.

County Offers New
Home Ownership Program

Broward County’s Housing and Community Development Division and the Housing Finance Authority are offering a new home ownership program designed to help homebuyers achieve their dream of home ownership.

The 2007 Home Ownership Program offers a 30-year, fixed-rate first mortgage at 6.60 percent and 4.00 percent of the full loan amount to be credited to down payment or closing costs. There are no loan origination fees or discount fees. The first mortgage and note are exempt from documentary stamps and intangible tax, representing significant savings for homebuyers.

The program is available to residents purchasing a new or existing single family home, condominium or townhouse located in Broward County. The program is not restricted to first-time buyers, but residents must meet standard credit requirements. All buyers must attend an approved homebuyer counseling course. Interested applicants may contact participating lenders to pre-qualify. For more information and a list of participating lenders, visit www.broward.org/housing, or call the Broward County Call Center at 954-831-4000 (TTY: 954-831-3940).

County Begins Accepting
Property Tax Payments

Following the mailing of property tax notices, Broward County’s Revenue Collection Division began accepting payment for 2007 taxes.

Discounts for early payment of taxes are available. For residents paying taxes during November, the discount is four percent; in December, three percent; in January, two percent; and in February, one percent. Tax bills become past due on April 1, 2008.

Tax bills can be paid online at www.broward.org/revenue. Electronic checks (no fee) and credit cards (Master Card, Visa, Discover and American Express) are accepted. Check cards with a Master Card or Visa logo will also be accepted. A convenience fee charge applies, based upon the amount of the transaction. Broward County receives no monies from this convenience fee. Tax bills can be paid by telephone using credit cards: call 1-800-601-1069. Taxes can also be paid by mail.

New this year, tax bills can be paid in person at a number of Wachovia bank branch locations (cash or checks only; must have tax bill coupon):
• 1790 N. Pine Island Road, Plantation
• 400 E. Sample Road, Pompano Beach
• 3201 N. University Drive, Coral Springs
• 3300 N. Federal Highway, Fort Lauderdale
• 12399 Sheridan Street, Cooper City
• 3325 Hollywood Boulevard, Hollywood
• 1710 S. Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale
• 18400 Miramar Parkway, Miramar
• 1700 W. Commercial Boulevard, Fort Lauderdale

Payments can also be made in person, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., at the Governmental Center Annex, 115 S. Andrews Ave., Room A-100, Fort Lauderdale and the South Satellite Courthouse, 3550 Hollywood Blvd., Room 185, Hollywood. For information, call 954-831-4000.

Moon Rock on Display
At Main Library

In ceremonies on October 23, Ms. Susan Eisele-Black, widow of the late Apollo 7 astronaut Donn F. Eisele, donated a rare and priceless piece of moon rock to the Main Library, 100 S. Andrews Ave., Fort Lauderdale, for a permanent display.

The lunar rock was given to Ms. Eisele-Black as part of an Ambassador Exploration Award to her late husband. Ms. Eisele-Black, a longtime member of the Broward Public Library Foundation, donated the rock to the library to be permanently displayed on the library’s 6th floor.

State Health Centers
Offering Flu Vaccinations

The Broward County Health Department (a state agency) will be offering flu vaccinations for $25 during November at three facilities:

• MONDAYS—8 a.m.-Noon, Fort Lauderdale Health Center,
2421 S.W. 6 Avenue, Fort Lauderdale (954-467-4468)
• TUESDAYS—8 a.m.-Noon, Hughes Health Center,
205 N.W. 6 Avenue, Pompano Beach (954-788-6140)
• THURSDAYS—8 a.m.-Noon, South Regional Health Center,
4105 Pembroke Road, Hollywood (954-985-4800)

Other sources for flu shots are Maxim Health System locations (www.findaflueshot.org) or contact your physician.

To Receive Community Update
Please Send Email to Us

Community Update, a monthly newsletter from the Board of County Commissioners, is produced by the Office of Public Communications. Address questions concerning articles to 954-357-6990. To receive Community Update electronically, send an email to publicinfo@broward.org. Please include your first and last name and email address. Hearing impaired residents can call the TTY line at 954-831-3940 for additional information..