Oakland Park's New Library, Rebuilt Fields and Greenleaf Park, and Who Paid for Them

Between early July and late August 2026, Oakland Park opened a new library, reopened a rebuilt ballfield, refreshed a fitness trail and opened a brand-new downtown park. Most of the money for that run came from outside the city's general budget. Grants and a private development partner covered most of the big costs. The four confirmed openings are on the east side, close to City Centennial Park, and the first chance to see them as a set comes Friday night when the city holds its Halloween Bash next door to the new library.

The library moved into a building residents already knew

The new Oakland Park Library is at City Centennial Park, 3900 NE 3rd Avenue. The city held the grand opening on July 3 at the Penultimate Semiquincentennial All-American Picnic, which also marked Oakland Park's 97th birthday and Heidi Burnett Day.

The library isn't a new building. It's a former community center converted into a technology-heavy library with public computers, high-speed internet, a technology hub, children's and family spaces, and flexible community rooms. A $2 million FloridaCommerce grant and a $500,000 Library Construction Grant funded the conversion, and a Florida League of Mayors City Catalyst Grant paid for new technology. The city says it has secured more than $70 million in grants since 2015 for parks, infrastructure, public safety and resilience projects.

Before the move, the library was operating from a temporary space at Jaco Pastorius Park. Library hours, as posted in the city's July 7 announcement, are:

• Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Tuesday and Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The Tuesday and Thursday evening hours are the ones that fit a workday. The Friends of the Oakland Park Library volunteered at the opening and support library programs year-round.

Five places, and who paid for each

The library is the anchor, but the summer's other openings follow the same funding pattern. Here are the confirmed openings with their addresses and funding sources, as the city has reported them:

Look at the right-hand column. Nearly every line item names an outside funder: a state agency, a federal grant program, a block grant or a private developer. Stevens Field reopened after a July 17 ribbon cutting, and the city credits its upgrades to a $1 million federal grant. The Giusti par cours got its new equipment and shade with nearly $200,000 in Community Development Block Grant money.

Greenleaf Park arrived before the building it belongs to

Greenleaf Park is the most unusual of the group. It opened August 27 at 1300 Park Lane East, and the city says it was built through more than $2 million in private investment at no cost to taxpayers. The builder was Horizon Oakland Park LLC, a joint venture of Falcone Group and Kaufman Lynn Construction. The park ties to the Horizon redevelopment and opened ahead of that larger mixed-use project.

The park is the first piece of the Horizon project residents can use. In the city's opening announcement, Mayor Steven R. Arnst said "this year, we've opened new facilities and delivered new public spaces in every corner of the city."

Greenleaf adds a full basketball court, tennis and pickleball courts, a playground, a shaded pavilion and on-site parking. All of it is lit. The city hasn't posted court reservation rules or hours for Greenleaf. For booked clay-court tennis, the city's Dillon Tennis Center lists eight lighted courts and takes reservations at 954-561-6180.

Friday night is the first time to see the set together

The city's free Halloween Bash runs Friday, October 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. at Wimberly Field, 4000 NE 3 Ave. The Halloween Bash page lists the signature Trunk or Treat, costume contests, the Hay Find, inflatables, music and games.

Wimberly Field's address is the next block number up NE 3rd Avenue from the new library. That's the first city event of the fall season held next door to the converted building. The library closes at 6 p.m. on Fridays, the same hour the Bash starts. Plan any library stop for earlier in the afternoon.

Here's one way to make a day of it, using only places the city has confirmed are open:

1. Afternoon at the library, 3900 NE 3rd Ave, before the 6 p.m. Friday close. Kids can use the family spaces, and adults can work in the tech hub.
2. A lap of the Stevens Field walking trail at 3881 NE 6th Ave. The new perimeter trail and restroom building make it an easy stop with kids before the evening event.
3. Halloween Bash at Wimberly Field, 6 to 9 p.m., free.

On a regular weekend, Greenleaf's courts and the Giusti par cours, both on Park Lane East, add a second outing. Use the courts and playground at Greenleaf, and the fitness stations and new shade on the par cours.

The west-side pair had September dates

The city's summer plan included two more projects, both west of the east-side group. Royal Palm Park at 1701 Park Lane West was scheduled for a September 10 ribbon cutting. It's slated for upgraded trails and pathways, improved lighting, new landscaping and better stormwater management, with more than $476,000 in grant funding behind the trail and lighting work.

Veterans Park at 3401 NW 21st Avenue was scheduled for September 25. Its centerpiece is a new kayak launch on Blue Heron Lake, along with a paved trail, better lighting, accessibility upgrades and resurfaced parking. A $400,000 Recreational Trails Program grant supports the project. As of the city's September 4 update, both parks were "scheduled to reopen in September." The city's park-hours sheet lists Veterans Park as open daily from 8 a.m. to sunset. Rules for personal kayaks and paddleboards at the new launch haven't been posted, so check with the city's parks department before bringing a boat.

The two west-side projects follow the same pattern as the east side, with grant programs paying for the trail, lighting and launch work.

What comes after this round

The city says it has added or unlocked more than 30 acres of parkland and green space in recent years. That total includes the Oak Tree greenway, the BLYS waterfront promenade, the expansion of City Centennial Park and Greenleaf Park. More improvements are planned at Glenwood Garden and at City Centennial Park itself. So the area around the new library will keep changing. The city's Fall/Winter 2026 "On the Rise" newsletter, posted October 15, covers the new parks, the library, upcoming events and mobility projects.

Private businesses are filling in nearby too. WhatNow reported on October 13 that Pure Green is planned for 3875 N. Dixie Hwy. Local franchise owners Cesar Murillo and Michael Hernandez are aiming to open by year-end, with no exact date set.

If you're curious how Oakland Park's new parks, the Horizon redevelopment and the projects still coming to City Centennial Park might affect your street, Matthew Heinz follows these projects block by block. Schedule a Free Consultation and we'll talk through what's opening near you.