City Developing Plan to Revitalize Coleman Park Neighborhood
Dec 19, 2008 - Mayor's Office
(Friday, December 19, 2008) The City of West Palm Beach is beginning a major new redevelopment effort in Coleman Park, one of the City’s oldest neighborhoods.
In recent years, the neighborhood has been marred by blighted conditions and illegal activity. The City will be kicking off the Coleman Park Neighborhood Improvement Initiative with a neighborhood walk, encouraging residents to walk and talk with City staff and find ways to make Coleman Park a better place. People interested in joining the neighborhood tour should meet at the Coleman Park Community Center, located at 1116 21st Street, at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 20, 2008.
The neighborhood walk is just the beginning of what will be an intensive effort to restore and revitalize Coleman Park. The City has stepped up Code Enforcement efforts in the area to clean up deteriorating structures and overgrown lots. The West Palm Beach Housing Authority has announced plans to demolish and rebuild Dunbar Village, reconnecting it with the surrounding neighborhood. The City will encourage business development, home rehabilitation and increases in homeownership. The City will also use federal dollars to buy and rehabilitate foreclosed properties.
The planning process will engage area residents and businesses, getting them to shape and embrace the rebirth of their neighborhood. Throughout the process, residents will be encouraged to share their ideas, concerns and vision for Coleman Park. Neighborhood charettes will also be a critical part of the process.
Special FREE Inauguration Celebration
Dec 17, 2008 - Newsletter
Tuesday, January 20, 2009, join the City of West Palm Beach for a special Inauguration Celebration edition of Clematis by Night! CBN will be moved from Thursday to Tuesday that week in order to help mark the swearing in of our nation’s 44th president, Barack Obama.
For now, save the date! A more detailed listing of the events and festivities will be on the way. Right now, community leaders are busy helping plan the day’s celebrations.
Water System Improvements Continue
Dec 17, 2008 - Newsletter
The City of West Palm Beach is continuing to make significant improvements to the entire water system. These investments in our water’s quality and reliability are paying off.
Beginning in November, the City implemented new procedures to help reduce the leaching of lead and copper from the pipes in customer’s homes into the water. The procedures also help to slow the corrosion of pipes. The City has used anti-corrosion measures in the past, but this new process is a major improvement over the old system.
The City is gradually introducing a phosphate corrosion control additive into the water at the Water Treatment Plant. The process has been closely monitored and is being done with the full approval of the Palm Beach County Health Department.
Though the City no longer uses lead in pipes or pipe joints, some customers with older homes may still have lead in their pipes, pipe joints or fixtures. The new process will help prevent lead in these customers’ homes from leaching into the water.
We have many more improvements to be made to the water system in the coming 18 months, and we’ll continue to keep you informed as to the upgrades we’re making. Our goal is to have a top-notch water system that we can all be proud of.
Happy Holidays from West Palm Beach!
Dec 17, 2008 - Newsletter
On behalf all Mayor Lois Frankel and all City of West Palm Beach employees, the people who make CityConnect possible would like to wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season.
Be on the lookout for holiday greetings shared by our employees– you can see them by watching West Palm TV 18 (Comcast channel 18 or westpalmtv.com).
City Kicks Off Tree Planting Program
Dec 17, 2008 - Newsletter
Some local neighborhoods are getting greener, will have more shade and will look a little better thanks to a City program to distribute more than 700 trees.
Mayor Lois Frankel joined Commissioner Isaac “Ike” Robinson, Jr., neighborhood leaders and about a dozen kids from Westward Elementary School to announce the program (pictured).
The City is helping replace trees that we lost due to storms in recent years. More than 700 trees are being given to homeowners in Roosevelt Estates, Coleman Park abnd Pleasant City. The company ATL Diversified Industries is dontating time and labor to help the residents plant the trees free of charge.
The program will help increase the City’s tree canopy, which helps reduce our overall carbon footprint and protect the environment.