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Most of us are back in the swing after the holidays, and that includes our Parks & Recreation Department. There are significant events almost every weekend until the weather turns too warm.
City Hall is just as active, with a handful of initiatives that can help make Plantation a better place to live. Below is a list (I’ll give you the parks and events afterward):
Progress continues on North Acres Park, a passive trail north of Sunrise Boulevard and west of Northwest 118th Avenue; expected completion is late spring.
The city’s third annual strategic planning retreat, which is open to the public, runs from 9:30 a.m. on Feb. 6 at Volunteer Park. We will be conversing with the city council about the progress made, upcoming budget priorities and adjustments to the current strategic plan, which you can read at Plantation.org/StrategicPlan.
Utility billing improvements will make it possible for online billing and online payment, eliminating the mailing process for those who wish to do so. The final conversion of city meters will be complete the first half of the year enabling every resident to access Eye On Water that provides you with comprehensive insights of your water usage patterns and can help detect leaks early.
A pilot program is in the works to enhance composting possibilities in Plantation. We will mirror it after a similar program in another city.
We will conduct a survey of local businesses, similar to the 2024 resident survey, which you can read at plantation.org/survey.
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Meanwhile, yes, our parks and others have plenty of activities:
5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18: “The Gentrification of Jamaican Music,” a discussion examining the effect of external influences, is at the Island SPACE Museum at Broward Mall. Buy tickets at ReggaeGenealogy.org/Panel2025. The event is a lead-up the Reggae Genealogy event Feb. 2 at the mall. (See below.)
10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 25: Doggie-Palooza at Happy Tails Park.
5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 1: Multicultural Celebration followed by the monthly Rock the Park Concert at Pine Island Park.
4-9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 2: Second annual Island Space Museum Reggae Genealogy, with performers and historical perspectives, on the east side of Broward Mall.
7 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 9: 19th Annual Run through Central Park 5K race. Course begins looping down Nob Hill Road, to around the lake in Central Park, finishing on the track.
1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16: Parkfest Love and Music Day with the Florida Youth Orchestra and Nestor Torres at Plantation Heritage Park.
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MLK Holiday hours
Monday, Jan. 20, is a federal holiday and city offices will be closed. Our parks will operate on a standard holiday schedule.
Meanwhile, “A Day of Service,” consisting of tree plantings, is set for Martin Luther King Day Monday at Jacaranda Lakes Park, 1200 NW 94th Ave. You can volunteer via contacting plantationparks@plantation.org.
Take the Midtown Survey
One thing we're looking forward to is making our Midtown district more accessible by foot. There is currently an asphalt survey asking our residents and visitors their thoughts on transportation, safety improvements and traffic flow.
Survey closes Jan. 20: Surveymonkey.com/r/MidtownAsphalt.
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Sen. Osgood meeting
State Sen. Rosalind Osgood met with five mayors in her district, including me, and I have hope for a more civil session this year in Tallahassee. The 40-member Senate prefers not to be involved with “fiery” issues, she says, the ones that have made the news for being divisive in our state. Instead, Osgood said she and the other 11 Democrats in the 40-member Senate, are determined “to be professional” in their actions.
We also discussed housing, appropriations and ways to better improve communication between cities and the state legislature.
One activity I annually participate in is Broward Days, where many of the county’s elected officials travel to Tallahassee to state our needs. This year’s Broward Days is March 18-19.
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Friends of the Library
At the Friends of the Library holiday luncheon in December, the Friends made a donation of $15,000 to the Helen B. Hoffman Plantation Library to support it's services, materials, and programming. The Friends hold different year-round fundraising events, one being the Author's Luncheon on March 15 at Jacaranda Country Club.
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Certified Green Business
Congratulations to the first two City of Plantation Certified Green Businesses, Bee Lady Kim and Marumi Sushi! Thank you for your dedication and commitment to environmental conservation through efforts in waste reduction, energy efficiency, water conservation, and offering eco-friendly options.
If your business would like to apply to be green certified visit plantation.org/greenbiz.
 Bee Lady Kim Certified Green Business pictured with Council and Sustainability Board Chair
Meetings
January 29: City Council at City Hall.
View all 2025 meetings and events by visiting Plantation.org/Calendar.
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