More on the Good News from Tuesday's (5/6) Commission Consent Agenda

The City is making an application to the Florida Inland Navigation District for grant funds to improve the Old Bridge Park Natural Area. The total amount of the grant is $251,875 and the project cost is $503,750. The match is coming from Palm Beach County. It will cover the cost of improvements to the City of Lake Worth land north of the bridge and land south of the bridge leased by the county.

I find it interesting that this activity has gone under the radar since both properties share long individual histories. Of course, Old Bridge Park, formerly Causeway Park, had been promoted by a former mayor for sale and turning the park over to a private developer who would build a condominium there. This then led to the Save Our Parks initiative which made it on the ballot. Voters approved the measure that would require a referendum on the sale of park land in the city and restricting leases on that land to 20 years without a referendum. The mayor that pushed that project lost his bid for re-election. That was the area north of the bridge, but would also have tied in the area south of the bridge. Old Bridge Park became jokingly referred to as "Hot Dog Park" since it was used by the forces of darkness each Fourth of July to celebrate their victory giving away hot dogs in what amounted to a waterfront parking lot.

The area south of the bridge is the former Steinhardt property where the city was in a long term lease going back to the late 1960s. Multiple proposals were "floated" for a marina, condominiums on fill, on stilts, etc. It was a contentious relationship between the city and the leasee for years. It was only recently resolved by the current administration and the land is now leased by Palm Beach County.

These are some pictures of how the area looks today. The area really does need some improvement.

These are the site plans of the area that are part of the application.

I just find it interesting that properties which generated so much public attention and outcry for so many years can go under the radar when a "good news" story happens. It would have been nice to see a "hip, hip, hooray", at least, from someone that thought the sun rose and set on these properties. Maybe they'll be there for the ribbon cutting. Oh, remember that the city is not contributing any cash to this project, but will be the primary beneficiary.