Parkland Continues To Blossom As It Grows By Ira Goldman <strong>The</strong> other day I was thinking about the changes since our family moved to Parkland, population about 7,000, in the summer of 1991. I had never before lived in a city that actually “grew up” around me. I was used to living in a medium-sized New Jersey city of 120,000 and the world’s leading city, New York, with 8,000,000 people. One of the first communities in the eastern section of Parkland was the rental community of Winners Circle. We moved in along with a plethora of “new Floridians” from New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. For some reason 1991 seemed to be a banner year for the southern migration of families from the northeast United States. Across the street from the Winners Circle, on the north side of Hillsboro, was a large wooded area that ran from the northwest corner of Rt. 441 and Hillsboro to Parkland’s second commercial site, the car wash. Today, this area is the BJ’s site with a bank, a soon-to-be two-story office building and the commercial area anchored by Starbucks and the new Millenium Plaza. <strong>The</strong> building of Terramar Park and the development of Whittier Oaks started a new building spurt for single-family homes in eastern Parkland. Following Whittier Oaks was Ternbridge, Mayfair and the other eastern communities, which were built out in the late 1990s. Schools were scarce In 1991, schools were scarce in Parkland. Riverglades Elementary School was being built to accommodate the influx of young families. This school would join Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School as the two “Parkland Schools,” though at that time, in name only. <strong>The</strong> building of the middle school, West Glades, would not take place until the early 2000’s. <strong>The</strong> Parkland Town Center was originally zoned for a townhouse community but was rezoned for business use. <strong>The</strong> main reason for the zoning change seemed to be the overcrowding of residences in this district causing an even greater overcapacity of the schools. Today, we have an evolving Town Center that will eventually have retail stabilization. I remember going into the old City Hall, on the corner of Parkside and Holmberg, for PHO stickers, to talk with Harry Mertz and attending the P&Z Board and city commission meetings. With Parkland’s growth, it was only a matter of time before the old City Hall would give way to a new edifice at University and Holmberg. Our new City Hall fits well into our rural, “country-chic” ambiance. One enters the building on the northeast side and immediately inside in front of the main doors is the Commission Chambers. <strong>The</strong> information desk is to the left (Rachel, I am sure, will gladly assist you in answering your questions) and the city offices are along the periphery of the building. If you haven’t gone to our City Hall yet, it is worthwhile taking the time to see it. Walk to the east of City Hall and you’ll be at the new library. Our library is a modern, 21st-century building with all of the necessary computer links, stocked bookshelves, meeting rooms and the only place one can see the Historical Society’s exhibit on the 40-plus years of Parkland’s past. Parkland’s ‘Focal Point’ With City Hall, the library and the soon to be completed police and fire station on the northeast corner of Holmberg and University, the geographic center of Parkland has been established. With University Drive as the southern “entrance” to Parkland, our civic complex is a strong focal point. Growth, at times, comes with some heavy burdens. Old political figures fall out of favor and new ones are elected to take their places. Job transfers cause families to pick up and move against their wishes. Educational needs are among the primary concerns of a growing population, especially local schools and the ancillary amenities that the people demand, like parks and recreational facilities. Although Broward County controls education, we have people like Carolyn and Robert Marks, who made sure that we in Parkland would have our “own” schools. Through their leadership and their persistence with the Broward County Board of Education, Parkland’s schools are considered some of the best in the state. Parkland has grown in the last 13 years faster than any other time in its existence. Within the next few years, Parkland will be at the stage of complete “build-out” with no more available land to build upon. With proper care, Parkland will continue to be the gem of northern Broward County, if not the state. As far as I am concerned, no other Florida city has the beautiful, unspoiled open space, parks, schools and residential communities of Parkland. Now, we are among the 14,000-plus “newcomers” proud to say, “I live in Parkland, and I love it!” P ● You Deserve A New Kitchen! Cabinetpak Will Design And Install Your Dream Kitchen. Cabinetpak gives you proven value! 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