FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Earlier this month and without warning, residents said locks were placed on the gates of Dottie Mancini Park in Fort Lauderdale’s Imperial Point neighborhood.
Those residents are upset and say numerous families, children and the elderly are impacted.
“This is where I live,” said resident Mia Nistico. “These are children here, I enjoy hearing their laughter and playing.”
It’s more than just a simple park to many of the residents in the area.
“I’m legally blind and I walk in this neighborhood and I walk in the park because it’s safe, it’s easy, there’s nothing to trip over,” said resident mark Comeau.
It’s a place where many have helped build the community.
“This park is especially important for mothers with babies,” said resident Jelena Kulovic Jaksic. “They come in the morning, we chat, we help each other with strollers. So this is not just a place for walking and exercising. It’s more than that.”
Less than a month ago, children were playing on the slide and running around, but now the park is desolate, with empty picnic tables, an empty basketball court, and nothing but squirrels scampering around.
“The last two days I walk around the parking lot, it’s very depressing,” said resident Enrique Carpio.
The park is located right next to Broward Health Imperial Point.
Broward Health owns the property, but the city of Fort Lauderdale has leased it from the hospital for more than 15 years. That lease expired on Nov. 1.
The city says there have been efforts to extend the lease, saying there have been shifts in Broward Health’s priorities and that they might be expanding their footprint.
Broward Health has not confirmed that, instead releasing a statement to Local 10 News saying they, too, are committed to reopening the park.
The statement read, in part:
“Last week, the City Manager met with Broward Health and community leaders to express the city’s and hospital’s commitment to reopening the park. We all recognize the value this park brings to our Imperial Point neighbors and look forward to reopening the park as quickly as possible.”
Meanwhile, the city of Fort Lauderdale also released a statement which read, in part:
“Negotiations are currently underway between the City and Broward Health regarding the continued use of this community park. Both parties are working diligently to reach an agreement that would allow for the re-opening of this valued public space.”
City Commissioner John Herbst also issued a statement regarding the matter:
Along with the Imperial Point neighborhood, I was both shocked and dismayed by the padlocking of the park shortly before their holiday party. Thankfully we were able to reach an agreement with Broward Health to accommodate the holiday event, but we still need to work towards a longer term solution. At the very least I am hopeful that we can achieve an interim agreement covering the next few months that will give us time to identify exactly what Broward Health needs from the City to get to the long term solution. If building a medical office building on the site is their primary goal, then we have a challenge. However, if we can identify an alternative offsite location that meets their needs, then I believe that we can work together in the spirit of partnership and collaboration to find a mutually beneficial arrangement. Towards that end, we are speaking with them frequently and will continue to do so until we come to a solution.
John C. Herbst, Fort Lauderdale Commissioner-District 1