BOCA RATON, Fla. — A new park in Boca Raton has a sticker price that is too expensive for city leaders.
The city council met Monday afternoon to discuss what should stay and what should go in the plans for Wildflower Park along the Intracoastal Waterway.
Plans to reconstruct the park and nearby Silver Palm Park have been at a standstill for the last year.
Located on a 2.3-acre site at 551 East Palmetto Park Road, the current cost of the project is about $3 million more than the projected $8 million.
Plans for the park include:
- Pedestrian promenade
- Greenspace
- Launch for non-motorized vessels
- Docks
- Public art
- Seawall
- Picnic pavilion
- Event lawn
- Connection to Silver Palm Park under Palmetto Park Road bridge
City councilwoman Andrea Levine O'Rourke has been involved with the project since 2009. She said removing items from the park plan isn't easy.
One of the things O'Rourke was trying to keep in the plans was moving a bathroom to a new location.
During Monday's meeting, council members discussed items that could help reduce costs, such as cheaper lights and removing steps from the seawall construction.
Resident Pete Poplawkski isn't excited to hear the new seawall stairs won't be built, since he would launch his kayak at the location. Instead, he would have to use the boat ramps at Silver Palm Park.
The city council is set to remove about $300,000 worth of costs to the park construction, keeping the budget about $2 million more than the projected price.
The Boca Raton City Council will meet again before giving final approval on the additional costs.
