City fumbles rollout of $200 million parks bond
A water main break is snarling traffic near Cordova Road this morning, the city is taking heat for the slow rollout of a $200 million parks bond, and Sunrise Boulevard drivers...
City fumbles rollout of $200 million parks bond
Seven years after Fort Lauderdale voters approved a $200 million parks bond, the city is being accused of dropping the ball on the rollout.
The Sun Sentinel reports the bond, which residents said yes to in hopes of upgrading parks across the city, has produced far less progress than promised since the 2019 vote.
Reporter Susannah Bryan's May 14 piece details the gap between voter approval and visible park upgrades, raising questions about how the borrowed money is being spent and which neighborhoods will see improvements first. The public issue is bigger than one construction delay: voters approved the borrowing in 2019, and residents are still waiting to see the full delivery path.
For residents, the practical question is which parks are next in line and on what timeline. With the bond approved in 2019 and questions now being asked in 2026, the gap between promise and delivery is the central civic issue for residents to track. The next City Commission Regular Meeting is scheduled for the Broward Center for the Performing Arts — Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom at 201 SW 5th Avenue, where the commission has been meeting throughout this year.
Water main break closes intersection near 17th Street
A water main break this morning has caused road closures at the intersection of Southeast 15th Street and Cordova Road, according to WSVN.
Drivers in the Harbordale and 17th Street corridor should expect detours and delays until crews complete repairs.
The break compounds a separate problem from earlier in the day on the SE 17th Street bridge, which reopened after the crossing arms got stuck and blocked eastbound lanes. WSVN's 7Skyforce hovered over the bridge as traffic backed up during the closure. With both incidents hitting the same corridor, anyone heading to Port Everglades, the cruise terminal, or 17th Street businesses should leave extra time.
Sunrise Boulevard roadwork to last more than a year
The Florida Department of Transportation is starting a roadwork project along a stretch of Sunrise Boulevard that will last more than a year, the...
n Sentinel reported May 14. Reporter Megan Vaz's piece lays out what drivers should expect during the extended construction window.
Sunrise Boulevard is one of the main east-west arteries connecting the beach to I-95 and points west, so a year-plus project will reshape commute patterns for a large slice of the city. Drivers who use Sunrise daily should start watching the construction schedule now and build in extra time once lane changes begin.
Avianca adds Fort Lauderdale and Miami flights to Colombia
Avianca, the national flag carrier of Colombia, is adding flights from Fort Lauderdale and Miami to Colombia, the Sun Sentinel reported May 12.
For Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the route expansion matters because FLL is named directly alongside Miami in the added-service report.
For travelers, the practical point is simple: more direct Colombia options from FLL and Miami. Anyone planning summer or fall travel should compare schedules from both airports before assuming Miami is the only workable departure point.
Historic landmark to be demolished for 13-story condo
One of Fort Lauderdale's historic landmarks is set to be demolished to make way for a new 13-story condo, according to the Sun Sentinel.
The replacement project puts another redevelopment proposal in front of residents who follow preservation decisions and high-rise housing projects.
Residents who want to follow the development path should track upcoming Historic Preservation Board and Planning and Zoning Board agendas at fortlauderdale.legistar.com, where meeting notices and accessible agendas are posted as they become available.
Brazilian Voices blends yoga and bossa nova at Broward Center
Brazilian Voices will blend yoga and bossa nova in an upcoming Broward Center performance, the Sun Sentinel previewed in a May 13 piece by Rod...
afford Hagwood. The writeup notes it's a concert at its core, with the yoga element woven through the performance rather than replacing it.
The Broward Center for the Performing Arts is at 201 Southwest 5th Avenue in downtown Fort Lauderdale, and the venue's full calendar is at browardcenter.org. The week ahead at the Broward Center campus also includes The Parables Tour with Father Mike Schmitz on May 20, Jim Breuer's Find The Funny at The Parker on May 20, and the 30th Annual Festival Yachad Israeli Dance Festival on May 24. Tickets and showtimes are on the venue's calendar.
Norovirus outbreak hits Princess cruise out of Port Everglades
More than 100 people got sick from norovirus on a Princess Cruises ship that departed Port Everglades for an 11-day trip, the Sun Sentinel reported...
y 11. Reporter Richard Tribou's piece details how the outbreak unfolded after the ship left Fort Lauderdale's cruise port.
For Fort Lauderdale, the local angle is Port Everglades. Anyone with a Princess sailing booked out of the port in the coming weeks should check the line's health advisories and boarding guidance before departure.