News

I was tickled by the article regarding Milani Park in the recent The Coastal Star.

I was reminded of a Highland Beach public meeting probably 10 years ago.

I was the only resident speaking for the renovation. There was talk about the arrival of drug

By Rich Pollack

Laura Thurston wanted to take her 2-year-old grandson to a playground with swings and slides and all things designed for small kids who just want to have fun.

A resident of Boca Highland Beach Club and Marina at the south end of High

Summer construction anticipated as county, town end long feud

By Rich Pollack

The decades-long battle between Highland Beach and Palm Beach County over development of Milani Park could be ending thanks to a compromise reducing the initial number of p

Coral outcropping at proposed Milani Park — an out-of-the-way lure for snorkelers — once  attracted Japanese settlers, indigenous tribes Japanese settlers of Yamato Colony shown circa 1922 at Yamato Rock, once known as ’Jap Rock.’ It was a hub for th

The Coastal Star recently covered the planned Milani oceanfront park in Highland Beach. I write to emphasize the important right of public access to the shoreline.  

Recent Florida beach events spotlight the issue.  

First, the Florida governor resci

Sale and development wouldn’t come easy 

Included in the property for the planned Milani Park in Highland Beach is Yamato Rock, a favorite spot for snorkeling so named because the area was used in the early 20th century by members of the Yamato Colon

By Rich Pollack

Just when it looked like Palm Beach County was on track to finally build a controversial park in Highland Beach, the question of whether to continue with plans for Milani Park — and if so, how many parking spaces to put in it — has on

By Rich Pollack

Traffic issues, pedestrian safety and a familiar subject — parking spots and their abundance — were on the minds of Highland Beach residents as county leaders provided an update on the progress of Milani Park at a public forum last mo

This rendering of Milani Park, to be constructed on a 5.6-acre parcel at the south end of Highland Beach, has calmed fears that the park would be an eyesore. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Maggie Chappelear was pleasantly surprised whe

By Rich Pollack

With construction of the controversial Milani Park no longer in doubt, a spirit of cooperation between Highland Beach and Palm Beach County appears to be gaining traction.

Last month Highland Beach Mayor Natasha Moore and two residen

Dozens of Highland Beach residents and elected officials board buses headed to the County Commission chambers in West Palm Beach on May 7 in hopes of stopping or altering the building of Milani Park at the south end of Highland Beach. Tim Stepien/The

Dozens of Highland Beach residents boarded buses Tuesday and headed to the Palm Beach County Commission meeting where they unsuccessfully opposed the county's plans for the future Milani Park. Tim Stepien/The Coastal Star

By Rich Pollack

Palm Beach

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach’s battle to stop the controversial Milani Park was dealt a pair of powerful blows in April, with county leaders saying they are developing the park based on 15-year-old town approvals — and with the Milani family blessi

Residents packed a Feb. 1 meeting with Palm Beach County Commissioner Marci Woodward to oppose the county’s plans for the Milani Park site in Highland Beach. They at least want parking spaces on the west side of the project curtailed (below).
Tim Ste

Several hundred Highland Beach residents turned out Feb. 1 for a meeting hosted by Palm Beach County Commissioner Marci Woodward at the town library, where they strongly objected to the county's plans for the proposed Milani Park in their town. INSE

Enticements to develop Milani land aim to scuttle county’s plan

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach town leaders have offered the Milani family several favorable land-use adjustments in exchange for their vocal opposition to development of a beachfront p

By Rich Pollack

Highland Beach town leaders this week agreed to continue negotiations with the Milani family, offering several favorable land-use adjustments in exchange for the family’s vocal opposition to development of a beachfront park on land th

By Rich Pollack

With a Feb. 1 meeting hosted by county leaders just weeks away, Highland Beach condo presidents from nearly two dozen buildings gathered last month to brainstorm a strategy aimed at stopping the county’s long-delayed development of Mi

By Joel Engelhardt

As Palm Beach County’s population grows, the share of public beaches for every resident drops.

And that makes it hard for the county to meet its target to have 0.18 acres of developed beach access for every 1,000 residents.

In fact

If built, Milani Park would provide access to Yamato Rock, a prime snorkeling location. Photo provided

By Rich Pollack

Recognizing that just saying “No” won’t stop construction of the controversial Milani Park, Highland Beach commissioners are now pl