DATE: March 9,  2016
MEDIA CONTACT: Kimberly Maroe 
Public Information Manager, Broward County Commission 
PHONE: (954) 357-8053
EMAIL: kmaroe@broward.org

BROWARD COUNTY, FL - Broward County Commissioners have approved up to $356,752 in funds to upgrade Mickel Park in Wilton Manors.  Improvements will include a new playground with a "splash pad" water feature, new lights and better access for the park visitors with disabilities.  An electric vehicle recharging station is also planned as part of the Phase II Mickel Park Repurposing Project. 

"The city had a focus group.  It did a master plan, and based upon the information and data that they had gathered, determined that by expanding the uses to the park, they would certainly bring in more residents, not just from Wilton Manors but from all of the surrounding areas," said Commissioner Tim Ryan, who requested the funding.

Ryan told Commissioners money for the improvements was available in the 2000 Safe Parks and Land Preservation Bond Program after two nearby park projects were planned but later fell through.  

"Those two parks were less than a mile from Mickel Park, so there's a correlation there," said Ryan.

"What's important to me is that the city has come forward with a plan where they're not asking us to fund the whole project," Commissioner Chip LaMarca said.  "They're doing the bulk of the overall project and they're asking for a match, to a degree, which to me is how this is all supposed to work."

For more than fifty years, Mickel Park provided baseball and softball fields to the community. Wilton Manors invested $1.4 million in city funds for Phase I of the project which was completed last year.  Significant improvements included the construction of an entertainment pavilion, new fencing, and a walking trail with exercise stations, a police substation, new restrooms, benches, security systems and new irrigation. More than one hundred trees were also planted.