Flood recovery grant portal opens for April 2023 flood victims
Flood recovery applications, water maintenance, park construction, stormwater work, weekend arts, and a custard opening.
Flood recovery grant portal opens for April 2023 flood victims
Residents can apply online now and attend city help sessions May 28 or June 1.
Fort Lauderdale's disaster recovery assistance is now reachable for residents whose homes were hit by the April 2023 flood event. As of Wednesday, May 27, the city says the online application portal is open for Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery housing programs.
The programs may cover home rehabilitation and reconstruction, elevating homes, reimbursement for eligible flood-related expenses, and other recovery or mitigation work. Applications go through the city's intake link on the page above. If you need help with the process, the application support line is 954-495-4533. The city has not posted a simple yes-or-no eligibility checklist, so the portal and support line are the right places to confirm your own situation.
The city also has two educational meetings listed: Thursday, May 28, at 6 p.m. at Sanctuary Church's Banquet Hall, 2501 NE 30th St., and Monday, June 1, at 6 p.m. at the South Side Cultural Arts Center, 701 S. Andrews Ave. Recordings are expected on the City of Fort Lauderdale YouTube channel.
Water from a different plant next week may look different
Peele-Dixie is offline June 1-7 while crews work at the Country Club Wellfield.
Residents south of Broward Boulevard who normally receive water from the Peele-Dixie Water Treatment Plant will temporarily receive water from Fiveash Water Treatment Plant from Monday, June 1, through Sunday, June 7. The city says the change is tied to maintenance at the Fort Lauderdale Country Club Wellfield and a temporary Peele-Dixie shutdown.
The practical effect residents may notice is a slight change in water color. The city says the water remains safe and meets all primary drinking water standards. The difference comes from treatment technology: Fiveash uses lime-softening, while Peele-Dixie uses advanced reverse osmosis. Questions can go to the Customer Support Center at 954-828-8000.
Parks bond work is showing up at three neighborhood parks
Harbordale and Peter Feldman are on early-July playground timelines; Holiday Park is a longer project.
The voter-approved parks bond is moving from planning documents into closures, fencing, and construction noise. The city's $200 million bond program covers improvements at more than 90 parks, and three current projects are the ones residents may notice this summer.
At Harbordale Park, the city is replacing the playground, adding a new outdoor fitness area, and making accessibility improvements. Demolition is scheduled for May and expected to take about two weeks; construction is expected to run about six weeks after demolition and site prep. The playground and fitness area are expected to reopen by early July, with limited Miami Road parking for about eight weeks and no full road closure anticipated.
Peter Feldman Park is on a similar playground-replacement timeline, with demolition expected to take about two weeks and reopening expected by early July. Three parking spaces on NE 4th Avenue will be unavailable for about eight weeks. Holiday Park is the larger, longer job: a new playground, dog park, baseball dugout shade, wayfinding, landscaping, and walking-trail work, with the playground expected to fully reopen in summer 2027.
Stormwater crews are working through Middle River neighborhoods
The city is cleaning and inspecting about 30,000 feet of large stormwater pipe.
If you have seen crews working over drains, this may be the reason. Fort Lauderdale says it is working with FloTech Environmental and National Water Main Cleaning Company to clean and inspect about 30,000 feet of stormwater pipes larger than 30 inches, along with drainage structures, in the Middle River Watershed.
The findings are supposed to guide future stormwater improvement projects. Rock Island and West of Twin Lakes North were complete as of April. Work in Lauderdale Manors, Poinsettia Heights, Lake Ridge, and Middle River Terrace began May 18, and South Middle River is scheduled for summer. The full effort began in March and is expected to continue into fall 2026, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., weather permitting.
Art, wine, and a painting lesson land at South Side
Sips, Sounds, & Splats runs Saturday afternoon at the cultural arts center.
The South Side Cultural Arts Center hosts Sips, Sounds, & Splats on Saturday, May 30, from 3 to 6 p.m. at 701 S. Andrews Ave. The city listing describes an art-and-wine social with live music, a culinary demonstration by Chef Marlon of Eats 876 Grill, and a painting lesson from DJ the Artiste. Admission is free, with a cash bar and a take-home canvas available for $10.
Jazz brunch, an artist talk, Southern rock, and custard plans
A few non-civic notes fill out the next week and one fall opening to track.
The Broward Center calendar has a near-term music stop Friday, May 29: Duane Betts and Palmetto Motel play the Amaturo Theater at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Cleveland Clinic Rock Series, with special guest Mike Fuller.
The free Sunday Jazz Brunch returns Sunday, June 7, at 11 a.m. at Esplanade Park along the Riverwalk, with music across three stages including the Broward Center's Peck Courtyard. Bring chairs, blankets, and picnic baskets; the event page says well-behaved leashed pets are welcome.
The following week, Blue Man Group starts a June 11-14 run in the Au-Rene Theater as part of Broadway in Fort Lauderdale, with evening performances Thursday and Friday, two shows Saturday, and two Sunday performances. Broward Center describes the show as music, interactive art, and audience engagement for all ages.
That same June 7 afternoon, the NSU Art Museum hosts a 3 to 4 p.m. conversation between Edouard Duval-Carrie and Frantz Zephirin on their practices, shared histories, and homeland. And for a food-opening note: What Now Miami reports Whit's Frozen Custard has filed permit applications for 4336 N. Federal Highway, just north of Oakland Park Boulevard. It is permit-stage, not open, with fall 2026 expected timing.