This image highlights a proposed multimillion-dollar renovation for Lantana Beach Park. Council members are mulling over the project, but some residents say they don’t want it to wind up like local beachfronts they consider overdeveloped. The numbers denote proposed amenities such as a playground (11), splashpad (12), event lawn (25), and space for a future parking garage (29). The beach is at the bottom. Image provided
By Patrick Sherry
The Lantana Town Council is considering a multimillion-dollar, major renovation project for Lantana Beach Park, but residents say they don’t want it to turn into another overdeveloped beachfront.
Town staff invited residents to give their feedback on a new Lantana Beach Master Plan at a well-attended community workshop on March 14. The plan includes building more amenities on site and improving landmarks that have been around for decades.
Council members first discussed the renovation project during a 2024 visioning session. Last year, they reprioritized the project because of the aging facilities at the park.
“We can kind of have a Band-Aid approach, if you will, just kind of repair things as they break,” Town Manager Brian Raducci said. “Or we can take a comprehensive look at the entire 7.19-acre site and do something a lot more comprehensive.”
CPZ Architects, which has worked on a few town projects, was hired to create a conceptual proposal. Its plan would rebuild the boardwalk with new small shops, move the Dune Deck Café a bit farther west, add a parking garage, and construct a pier on the south side of the beach. Several attractions, including a splashpad, sand volleyball court, amphitheater, and picnic area, would also be added. Developers aim to build all this while maintaining the area’s existing tree canopy and dunes as much as possible.
Before moving forward with any of this, town officials wanted residents’ opinions. More than 30 people spoke at the workshop, with most of them opposed to the project’s added developments, saying it would go against the small-town character for which the beach is known.
“Who wants to take this lovely space and change its use; who gains from this change?” Jerome Burke said. “It looks to me like many, many people, couples and families have much to lose if this park changes.”
The council doesn’t know how much the project will cost yet, but it is expected to be expensive. It has already allocated $1.2 million for it, and external partnerships and financing will be needed to cover the rest of the cost. To fill any funding shortages, Raducci also presented the idea of selling three town-owned vacant parcels that are worth about $3.6 million.
Residents appreciated the town staff’s willingness to hear their opinions and adjust the project based on their suggestions.
“I do believe that there could be some things added or subtracted based on the feedback from the survey; you’ll have data to be able to adjust appropriately,” resident Tammy Gianfortune said. “As a first step, I think this will be a good starting point from which that data will guide you to improve the plan as we move forward.”
Town officials conducted an online survey to get more input from the public. The survey asked respondents what improvements and additions they would like to see and what should be removed from the current plan. Their input will be considered in future revisions.
The results of the survey will be presented at the April 10 Town Council visioning session at the Finland House.
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