The municipal government of Coconut Creek is shopping for parcels five acres or larger to purchase and convert to public parks.
City commissioners have asked the city manager, Mary Blasi, to negotiate a possible purchase of two parcels listed for sale. One is five acres in size, the other about seven acres.
The five-acre parcel on Northwest 74 Street is adjacent to the Oak Trails public park, and the other parcel is south of the Food for The Poor building on Lyons Road.
The city recently bought a five-acre parcel near Lakeside Park, where it plans to develop two fields for soccer and football. The city owns five fields for soccer and football and 11 fields fo softball and baseball.
If Coconut Creek lacks enough parks where kids can play, “we are going to have to hire a lot more police,” Commissioner Becky Tooley said, calling the city’s parks and recreation department one of the best in the state.
Commissioner Louis Sarbone also supports the acquisition of land for more public parks but expressed concern about exempting to many properties from property tax. [Sun-Sentinel] – Mike Seemuth