The Fort Lauderdale City Commission has approved a resolution accepting $2.18 million in grant funding from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to support major improvements at Joseph C. Carter Park.
The funding comes through the Land and Water Conservation Fund’s Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program and will support upgrades as part of the city’s broader $33.2 million signature park project, which is already backed by the voter-approved Parks Bond.
City officials said the additional funding will help expand the scope of planned improvements, transforming Carter Park into a modern recreational hub while increasing access to outdoor amenities for residents.
Located in District 3, the park originally opened as Sunland Park in 1953. It was renamed in 1994 in honor of Joseph C. Carter, who worked in parks and recreation for Fort Lauderdale and Broward County for more than four decades and supervised Sunland Park for 24 years before retiring in 1977.
Planned upgrades include a new community center, a shaded playground, walking trails and outdoor fitness stations, improvements to the swimming pool’s mechanical and structural systems, and renovations to the water playground. Additional plans call for a synthetic turf field with bleachers, upgraded lighting, and improvements to parking and site access.
Dean Trantalis said the project reflects years of community input and aims to improve equitable access to high-quality recreational spaces.
District Commissioner Pam Beasley-Pittman added that the grant funding will help the city bring its long-term vision for the park to life while honoring the priorities expressed by residents.
Design and construction will proceed in phases, with city officials saying a detailed construction timeline will be released once a contractor is selected and work is authorized to begin.