Apr 1: Central Broward Regional Park

In the distance, the clock tower chimes out a late afternoon welcome to the Central Broward Regional Park.  Slowly, the rust-colored buildings and green and gold umbrellas rise into view like a mirage.  Greater Fort Lauderdale's newest sports and recreational hub seems to have sprung up overnight, similarly, in the city of Lauderhill just west of downtown Fort Lauderdale. 

The park is located in the nexus of a vibrant mixture of cultures from the African Diaspora, but it is also positioned at a crossroads, historically.  It sits near the corner of U.S. Highway 441 (State Road 7), which was once considered the end of urban life in the county, and Sunrise Boulevard, which was once considered the dividing line between Black and White neighborhoods.  With westward growth, the area was bypassed over time. 

Today, however, multicultural family reunions, corporate and conference groups, and individual visitors can enjoy a range of recreational experiences there that are unmatched elsewhere in South Florida, from team-building to intergenerational play.

Children have two playgrounds and an aquatic center that is specially-equipped with a swimming pool and slides, a 30 ft. high rockscape waterfall, and lifeguards on duty, as well as an instruction area. Athletic adults can play tennis, basketball, netball, and cricket or watch cricket  and Australian rules football tournaments with 5,000-15,000 people in the first stadium of its type in North America that is capable of hosting major international sports championships.

Nature lovers can walk trails through wildlife areas where burrowing owls nest undisturbed,  paddle boats along the lake, or just spend quite time in seating areas and overlooks.

The Regional Park is also poised to become an anchor for an exciting new entertainment district with international impact and media development potential that promises to further revitalize the area. 

Plans are already underway for the surrounding grounds to include a cultural center and arts park; a library; the Carishoca Town Center, a multicultural retail center with restaurants, nightclubs, art museums and hotels celebrating Caribbean and African cultures; and the International Gospel Complex for Preservation and Education, which will showcase and preserve the history of gospel music and is it is expected to draw over 100,000 people annually.

Paralleling this cultural activity is the increased promotion of Greater Fort Lauderdale as a film, music, and television production center with the Lauderhill entertainment district playing a key role.  A creative arts conference presented by the Gospel Complex May 2-6 at Nova Southeastern University will place the national spotlight on the area, bringing together people from a wide range of media including the Word Network; the Gospel Music Channel; BETJ, which will do a taping at conference; representatives from urban radio networks, record labels, independent media production companies; filmmakers Reuben Cannon and Eric LaSalle; and actors from Tyler Perry's stable of plays and movies. 

In the midst of it all, the new Central Regional Park continues to sit at the crossroads - of the future, now.  

-Kitty Oliver, Ph.D.
 Oral Historian