All About Oakland Park, Florida
Oakland Park is a city in Broward County, Florida, located north of Fort Lauderdale. The city has a population of about 45,000 residents. Oakland Park is a diverse and vibrant community that offers a range of amenities and attractions for residents and visitors alike.
Get to know a little more about this small town with a lot to offer!
History
The history of Oakland Park dates back to the early 1900s, when it was primarily a farming community. The area was known for its fertile soil and abundant crops. Many farmers settled in the region to take advantage of the ideal agricultural conditions. As the population grew, so did the demand for goods and services. By the 1920s, the town had become a bustling center of commerce.
In 1925, the Florida land boom reached Oakland Park. Developers began purchasing large tracts of land in the area. one particular investor, the Countess of Lauderdale, envisioned creating a Biarritz of America. This new American Riviera was to be called Floranada. Her dreams were dashed when the Great Depression hit and the corporation she formed declared bankruptcy.
That was created an opportunity for the incorporation of Oakland Park. Soon after the Floranada failure, the Oakland Park Improvement Association began to lobby for incorporation as a city.
Their efforts paid off, and on June 18, 1929, Oakland Park was officially incorporated as a city. At the time, the city had a population of just over 1,000 people and covered an area of around 1.5 square miles. The first mayor of Oakland Park was H. V. Porter, a prominent businessman and landowner in the area.
In the years that followed, Oakland Park continued to grow and develop. The city became a popular destination for tourists and winter residents, thanks in part to its mild climate and proximity to the beach. The local economy thrived, with businesses ranging from agriculture and fishing to manufacturing and retail.
Attractions and Activities
Green Spaces
One of the highlights of Oakland Park is its beautiful parks and green spaces. The city has invested in expanding and improving its parks. The beautiful Stunson Nature Trail was built just southeast of Royal Palm Park. Residents can enjoy learning about the the different types of ecosystems in Florida while touring the nature trail. City Park Phase I, mentioned above, has been a hit with residents. It has something for all ages – pickleball courts, splash pad, playground and soon even more! Before approving the Blys development the City asked developers to include a public promenade for all of the City’s residents to enjoy a walk along the river. Around the Oak Tree development in west Oakland Park, a public greenway was built for all residents to use. The City recently received a $400,000 grant to revitalize Royal Palm Park, the “Duck Park”. Jaco Pastorius Park is where most of the City’s events take place.
Festivals
In addition to the City’s beautiful green spaces, the City loves to celebrate, and there is no shortage of events and festivals that take place throughout the year. From cultural celebrations to seasonal festivals, there is always something going on in Oakland Park.
The Youth Day Parade and Celebration is the City’s longest running event. Youth Day is usually held in March. It begins with a parade and ends at Wimberly Field. On the field kids and their families can enjoy carnival rides, food and entertainment.
Oktoberfest, one of the City’s most popular events and is sponsored by the Funky Buddha, a local brewery. The fest is complete with German bands, dancing, doggie fashion show, dachshund racing, activities and of course lots of beer – prost !
Another popular event is Dancing in the Street. This event takes place in downtown along main street. The event features live music, food vendors, and dancing in the street. For those who are interested in music and culture, the Oakland Park Soul Festival is a must-see. In addition to these, Oakland Park also hosts the Taste of Oakland Park, Latin Fest, Summer Nights, Holiday Village and a number of smaller events and celebrations throughout the year.
There is also Dancing In The Street, Soul Fest, The Taste of Oakland Park, Summer Nights, Latin Fest, Oktoberfest and Holiday Village to name the bigger events.
Another attraction in Oakland Park is its vibrant culinary scene.
Culinary District
Oakland Park is home to a range of restaurants, bars, breweries, cafes, bakeries, coffee shops and the like. For such a small city, it truly has a range of gastronomic options to rival any large city. In Oakland Park you can find everything from traditional American cuisine to international specialties to breweries to a distillery and even a meadery ! Some interesting spots are :
- Brick House
- Brewlihan Meadery
- Bulegreen Cafe
- Chainbridge Distillery
- Funky Buddha Brewery
- Ethiopian restaurant – Coming Soon !
- Mason Jar Pub
- Nour Thai
- Pink Donuts…
…and so much more, as this list is by no means all inclusive. Whatever your fancy, Oakland Park surely has it.
The Art Scene
Many an artist has made a home in Oakland Park. They have even created a artist directory for anyone that would like to hire an artist to do work for them. Some of the artists that have made Oakland Park home are :
- Ayal Armon – Haute Doll Fashions Couturier and Fine Artist
- Frank Polanco – Photographer
- Vicki Rosenthal – various art forms
- Martin Khardazhov – Fine Artist
- Lori Pratico – Murals and public art
If you are looking for artists in Oakland Park, check the artist directory here.
Education
Oakland is home to many schools, both public and private. Public schools in Oakland Park include North Andrews Gardens Elementary, Oakland Park Elementary, Lloyd Estates Elementary, Rickards Middle School, Northeast and Sunfire high schools. Private Schools located in or near Oakland Park include St. Mark’s Episcopal School, St. Coleman Catholic School, The Pinecrest School, Cardinal Gibbons Catholic High School, Westminster Academy and Calvary Christian Academy to name a few.
While the City itself does not operate any of the schools it is in tune with the schools within its borders. The City has a School Advisory Board.
This board is made up of 7 members who must be residents of Oakland Park and registered to vote in Broward County. The duties of the Board members are
- Provide guidance and advice to the 5 member City Commission on issues related to educational matters. Specifically the board should advise on how matters that come before the Commission will impact the quality of education for residents, or of the educational facilities located in the City.
- Be facilitators and liaisons of community partnership to identify community concerns regarding education.
The City supports families with school age children by offering after school programs and Spring, Summer and Winter break camps at affordable prices. In some cases, families may qualify for these services at a free or reduced cost. The City qualified for and was awarded monies to help with the Maximizing Out Of School Time, the M.O.S.T. program. Dedicated to its community, the City and its employees are always working hard to find opportunities, like the M.O.S.T. grant to benefit its residents. The M.O.S.T. grant is just one of many examples of this dedication.
Real Estate
Oakland Park’s location is prime. This is a characteristic that makes it attractive to residents, future residents and visitors. Its location the northeast corner of Broward County is just minutes from Fort Lauderdale, Wilton Manors, Lauderdale-by-the-Sea and Pompano Beach ot name a few. Beaches, shopping, dining and entertainment are also close by too. From almost anywhere in Oakland Park you can easily access either I-95 or the Turnpike to go to Miami, Palm Beach, Orlando or other Florida cities.
In addition to its outstanding location, Oakland Park offers the perfect blend of urban convenience and suburban charm. This trendy location is reflected in the strong demand for real estate in the area, as potential buyers recognize the value of owning property in such a desirable location.
The real estate market in Oakland Park is dynamic and strong. The City has housing options for almost all budgets. This makes it an attractive alternative for people that want to live in the area of Fort Lauderdale or Wilton Manors, but can’t find what they are looking for in those cities. With its convenient location, diverse and affordable housing options, Oakland Park’s real estate market is one of the hottest real estate markets in South Florida.
Development
Oakland Park’s real estate market it hot now, but with the development happening in the City, it will be even hotter in the years to come. For the past couple of decades the City Commission has had a vision for transforming downtown Oakland Park. The purpose of this transformation was threefold.
First, it wanted the City to shed its reputation as a pass-through city. Secondly, it wanted to make the highest and best use of prime real estate in the City’s center. Lastly, it wanted to create an identity for Oakland Park as a destination city that is wholly its own.
As a result of this vision currently there are several development projects happening. Perhaps the most exciting to have broken ground recently was the Sky Building. This building will sit on the two west Dixie lots. These lots were brownfields that had to been remediated. As a result for the years they were undeveloped they did not produce any revenue for the City. The new building will house the new City Hall as well residences, office space and retail. It will be one of the first mixed-use developments to be erected in the heart of the City.
In addition to the Sky Building, the City recently sold 6 acres of prime land for redevelopment on the site in and around what will soon be the old City Hall. This development will transform these six acres into another massive mixed-use development. It will be called Horizon of Oakland Park. HOOP. One of the salient features will be the living streets, known as “woonerfs”.
Just outside of downtown Oakland Park two new mixed-use developments were completed, Blys and Oaklyn. Both offer modern and urban style living to its residents. Blys is located just west of downtown. Oaklyn is just east. While they are not in downtown itself, they are close enough to signify a residential base of support that will be integral in supporting new businesses in and around downtown OP.
But wait, there’s more!
In addition to the renaissance of downtown Oakland Park, the City has several public works infrastructure projects on which it is working. In simple terms, the City is re-building its inner workings completely anew at this moment. These renewal projects are known as the bond projects because they are being funded by a $40 million dollar bond. The bond was approved by 2/3 of its voters.
The bond projects that are currently underway or completed include a brand new North Andrews Gardens Community Center, City Park Phase I, Firestation 9 and the new public works complex complete with an emergency operations center.
The development of Oakland Park over the last years has been impressive. The City is transforming itself into a vibrant and desirable place to live, work, and play. With a focus on revitalization, modernization, and community improvement, the city has set the stage for further progress and prosperity as it builds for its Second Century.
