2020 Parks Bond - Updates & FAQs

Renovations are well underway for Coleman Park! This project includes a brand new, 8,000 sq. ft. gymnasium, renovated community center, new playground, and new pavilion. We look forward to a ribbon cutting for Coleman Park & Community Center in the fall of 2024!

Construction at Gaines Park Community Center includes demolition and rebuilding of the gymnasium, renovation, and expansion of the community center (from 17,707 sq. ft. to 25,826 sq. ft.), and energy-efficient lighting. Improvements to the Jimmie “Doc” Horne Tennis Facility include demolition, rebuilding, and expansion of the tennis center building (800 sq. ft. to 2,000 sq. ft.), resurfacing of the tennis courts, with the addition of two new courts, new fencing, and energy-efficient lighting. The work will progress from April 2024 over 2 years. Estimated completion is early 2026.

Construction at the Howard Park Tennis Center includes resurfacing the existing seven (7) clay courts and two (2) hard courts, clubhouse renovation and expansion, the addition of four (4) pickleball courts, upgraded lighting (LED), and landscape improvements. The area will be fenced off until the contractor has completed the project. Work began in January 2024 and the estimated completion is late 2024.

For general information regarding the project, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (561) 804-4900 (TTY: 800-955-8771). Please visit our list of Park Facilities for available courts!

The City issued a 20-year bond in the year 2000 that provided $20 million for park upgrades throughout the City that were completed as part of the City’s Park Master Plan. The repayment of that bond issuance expires in September of 2020.

Twenty years later, many of the City’s parks are again facing critical needs to replace playgrounds, improve lighting, resurface parking lots and trails and install infrastructure that would allow for enhanced community amenities and greater activation of parks. The City desires to complete the construction, improvement, renovation, equipping and furnishing of some parks and recreation projects (see below) and desires to issue general obligation bonds to fund these parks and recreation projects in an amount not to exceed $30 million.

On November 18, 2019, City Commissioners gave preliminary approval to a bond referendum election in conjunction with the regular municipal election on March 17, 2020.

During the December 2, 2019 meeting of the West Palm Beach City Commission, the 2020 Parks Bond Referendum was approved unanimously by the City Commission. As a result, this initiative will be presented to voters in conjunction with the regular municipal election on March 17, 2020. If approved, the issuance of general obligation bonds in an amount not to exceed $30 million would facilitate widespread improvements and renovations to the City’s many parks. Additionally, the Parks Bond Referendum would be repaid from ad valorem taxation. It would not be an additional tax or fee, as property owners have already been paying a parks bond, which expires in September of 2020.

The West Palm Beach park system is made up of nearly 60 public parks, providing community members with hundreds of amenities. Examples of these amenities include playgrounds, walking trails, sporting courts, athletic fields, recreation centers and much more. These resources periodically require renovations and/or replacements due to their regular “life expectancy,” natural wear and tear from daily use and constant exposure to the elements (steady sunlight, rainfall, heat, etc.) As the City’s population grows there is also a need to add additional park infrastructure and amenities to keep up with demand.

The new funding would allow the City to execute large-scale upgrades and enhancements to its parks. These include new playgrounds, walking and exercise trails, outdoor fitness equipment, athletic spaces, increased lighting, shade structures, renovated restrooms, community center improvements and ADA accessibility improvements.

Well-maintained parks contribute to a city’s overall value and add vibrancy to neighborhoods and improve quality of life. Making these necessary renovations is vital to keeping our City’s properties at optimal values. Additionally, the equipment in many of our parks are nearing the end of their “life expectancy,” making replacement a more cost-effective solution when compared to ongoing repairs.

West Palm Beach has established a tradition of making parks a priority for residents and visitors. Parks help connect individuals of all ages by providing activities for active lifestyles and healthy communities. The goal of the new parks bond is to allow our City to continue providing these safe, recreational spaces to further develop the camaraderie and close-knit neighborhood feel that starts in parks.

A bond is a loan to a company or government for a pre-determined use, which is then paid back with interest over an agreed upon timeframe.

The City cannot fund the capital needed for a project of this magnitude with cash on-hand, so more fiscally-responsible options are considered.

Your current property taxes cover the costs of daily maintenance and operations for city parks, but do not cover capital improvement costs. They also contribute to your city’s police and fire departments, and other essential services.

Once approved, a parks bond is paid off within 30 years. If the new parks bond were approved, residents would be paying the same amount they paid last year and less than what was paid prior to that for the past 20 years, meaning the only change seen would be the upgraded public parks.

Millage is the tax rate used to calculate your ad valorem taxes. One mil equals $1 for every $1,000 of a property’s taxable value. For example, the existing millage rate for the City’s park bond debt service is .1202, therefore you are paying twelve cents in property taxes for every $1,000 of your taxable property value. For the median priced home of $243,000 within the City that amounts to $29.21 per year($2.43/month). For debt service, the millage is a function of the required annual payment and 95% of the City’s property value.

The current bond proposal is to retain the same amount citizens paid last year, if not reducing it.

All proceeds collected by the parks bond are allocated to specific projects identified in the official bond statement.

The bond will be paid-off within 30 years from inception through a special millage included on your annual tax bill.

While the State currently does have a small granting opportunity through the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP), this program has received little to no funding from the State over the past several years. If the State decides to increase investment in the FRDAP, we would match the program contributions with the bond funds to maximize your tax dollars and complete additional park improvements.

The City will have a section on its website dedicated to showcasing project progress. Additionally, the oversight and parks and recreation advisory committees will be responsible for the accountability of the funds and status of the projects.

For questions, suggestions or feedback regarding this initiative, please contact the Office of Community Engagement at (561) 822-1200, or the Parks And Recreation Department’s administrative office at (561) 804-4900 (TTY: 800-955-8771).