Earl Starkoff - Boca Raton Park District - "Loses Reelection Bid"

Dear Friends, Supporters, and Fellow Residents,

Serving as your Commissioner on the Greater Boca Raton Beach & Park District has been 12 wonderful years of community service.

 Together, we've opened the largest park in our history – the Athletic Complex at Countess DeHoernle Park, pushed back against private development of Ocean Strand on our barrier island, added the carousel to Sugar Sand Park, improved Mizner Dog Bark, and embarked on installing brighter, environmentally friendly lighting for greater safety at all of our parks.

We've also completed an historic 10-year $28 million agreement with the City for our entire beachfront. The District will now share in 50% of the local costs for beach renourishment and dredging the Boca Inlet.

This month, we'll rededicate the Science Playground at Sugar Sand as a 10,000 square foot 'Clubhouse without Walls' – doubling the original size – accessible for all to enjoy: with or without physical challenges. And the first phase of the rebuilt boardwalk at Gumbo Limbo will open by the end of this year.

We're set to break ground for a new community center at the Swim and Racquet Club with new, greatly improved tennis and swimming features. Design is getting under way for a 2nd field house at Sugar Sand; master planning is in place for a complete overhaul of Patch Reef Park; and we've accumulated the funds to develop new facilities for the growing population as new construction is completed.

We've added to the voices throughout our community that speak for green space first: a wonderful downtown park at Palmetto Park Road and the Intracoastal, and acquiring the Ocean Breeze Golf Course to keep it out of development and re-opened as a truly championship golf course in the District.

It's been a joy and honor to be your Commissioner.

For a Greater Boca Raton,

Earl