More than 15 years of successful redevelopment has
helped transform Fort Lauderdale Beach from a seasonal
tourist spot to a year round, world class family resort
destination.
For decades, as portrayed in the movie Where the
Boys Are, Fort Lauderdale Beach was known primarily
as a place where college students came by the thousands
to celebrate Spring Break. In the mid 1980s, the
City decided to made a concerted effort to shed its
image as a mecca for college students by passing
a strict ordinance prohibiting public drinking.
In 1986, voters approved a $47 million General Obligation
Bond which paved the way for several redevelopment
projects. Foremost among these was the $26 million
renovation of Fort Lauderdale Beach. The renovation
included the complete redesign of coastal roadway A1A,
the elimination of diagonal beach front parking, the
addition of landscaped medians, pullout lanes, bicycle
lanes, new traffic signals, brick paved pedestrian
crosswalks, expanded sidewalks and a pedestrian beachfront
promenade. The most dramatic change was the construction
of a beach wavewall – a flowing, swirling beach
wall that extends two miles along the central portion
of Fort Lauderdale Beach. Since its completion, the
wavewall has become the signature attraction for locals
and tourists alike.
Fort Lauderdale’s Beach redevelopment project
brought national and international recognition, instilled
community pride and began to redefine the City as an
international center for business, culture, leisure
and recreation. The ensuing years have brought even
more public and private investment in the area.
Today, Fort Lauderdale Beach features an array of
shops, restaurants, sidewalk cafes and entertainment
venues. The area is home to the Las Olas Marina and
Fort Lauderdale Aquatics Center, as well as numerous other special events. In addition the beach offers a
wide range of activities including boating, wind surfing,
jet skiing, volleyball, snorkeling, scuba diving, deep-sea
fishing and rollerblading.
Through the cooperative efforts of residents, businesses
and local government, Fort Lauderdale Beach has been
successfully transformed into a beautiful, friendly
and exciting destination that families can enjoy year
round.
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