Neighbors of Currie Park got their first look at an innovative conceptual plan for the waterfront expanse Tuesday, a place of glistening Intracoastal views surrounded by vacant lots where major residential towers would rise.
Jon Ward, executive director of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency, rolled out a plan of possibilities drawn up by MIT architect Carlo Ratti, a scheme for reshaping the park with promenades, as a floating pavilion with pool and restaurants, and raised hillocks with cafes tucked underneath them that open onto the water side. The plan envisions a three-story garage, possibly an amphitheatre, and walkways with sections that slope into the Lake Worth Lagoon to let park-goers “put their toes in the water,” Ward said.
The redesign would be coordinated with construction of the surrounding commercial towers on land owned by developer Jeff Greene, who brought Ratti to the city and is sharing the consulting costs.
The two-hour presentation and question-and-answer session drew a standing-room-only crowd of about 75 at the Manatee Lagoon on North Flagler Drive. Most were receptive to overhauling the park, which has been plagued with prostitutes, drug users and homeless people.
Residents wanted assurances the park would tie in to the rest of the area, in the same way that CityPlace had to be tied into downtown with trolleys and other features. They also wanted to know that whatever waterfront features were built could withstand hurricanes. Others worried the garage would block views, and urged that the park’s boat ramps, the only such ramps in the city, remain operational even during construction.
To read the full article, click here.