The globally renowned design firm Perkins&Will will reimagine and redesign Huizenga Park, a 2.1-acre riverfront park in the heart of Downtown Fort Lauderdale. Perkins&Will will transform the park’s current design to better connect with the needs of Fort Lauderdale residents, workers and visitors, today and for future generations to come. 

 Huizenga Plaza, located at 32 E Las Olas Boulevard, is a staple landmark of Downtown Fort Lauderdale’s urban core, with direct access to Riverwalk and the New River. The park provides an outdoor respite within Downtown’s urban environment where culture, business, living, and education intersect. Notable neighbors within walking distance of the park are NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale and Broward Center for the Performing Arts, the recently opened Hyatt Centric Hotel, as well as Fort Lauderdale campuses for Florida Atlantic University and Broward College. 

 Perkins&Will’s preliminary design concept for the park features a great lawn, a dog run, interactive play areas, revitalization of the Spirit of Fort Lauderdale fountain, concession space, public restrooms, a restaurant, and more. The DDA will continue to develop the overall design and program of the park with Perkins&Will over the next several months, engaging with Downtown Fort Lauderdale stakeholders along the way. 

 “Our mission is to create a space that enhances Huizenga Park’s offerings while still paying homage to its existing strengths and location along the New River. We aim to raise the bar for design excellence in public spaces,” said Christopher Counts, Principal of Landscape Architecture at Perkins&Will. “We recognize the park as a focal point of the Downtown Fort Lauderdale experience, contributing to the tremendous walkability of the area, and we are honored and excited to rejuvenate it to better serve Fort Lauderdale.”