32-story radio tower to loom over family park
HOLLYWOOD – A monstrous radio tower will rise 32 stories above the pristine grounds of Hollywood’s West Lake Park, eclipsing the trees, playground and a nearby water tower.
The 300-foot structure will be topped by a 25-foot antenna, bringing the total height to 325 feet.
It’s one of seven towers going up around Broward County to improve emergency communications, and is the only one that will sprout up in a park next to a residential neighborhood, visible for miles.
And that has nearby residents buzzing about whether the new tower might lower property values, endanger the health of babies or blow away in a hurricane.
“It has a diesel fuel generator that has to be tested once a week for an hour — and it’s going to be loud,” said resident Lisa Stingone, whose West Lake Village neighborhood sits just east of the park. “The tower will have a red flashing light. I talked to a realtor who said a tower like that could reduce our property values. I’m really upset about this.”
County officials say the new tower will upgrade emergency communications for police and firefighters.
“The goal is to have the towers up by April 2019,” said Jose De Zayas, Broward radio system administrator. “We are getting healthy discussions for all of our tower locations except the Everglades.”
Three other locations include a site near Parkland; another on Alligator Alley in the Everglades; and a site in Pompano Beach atop a condo. Two towers in Tamarac
A teenage boy, who officials think was riding his bicycle to Cypress Bay High School in Weston, suffered a head injury when he was hit by an SUV Tuesday .
The crash happened about 7 a.m. at the intersection of Bonaventure Boulevard and Orchard Road, according to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue.
The 14-year-old was crossing at the intersection and was hit by the SUV which was turning south on Bonaventure Boulevard from Orchard Road, Battalion Chief Michael Kane said.
The teen “was not believed to be wearing a helmet,” Kane said, and was flown by helicopter to Hollywood Memorial Regional Hospital in fair condition.
The woman driving the vehicle that hit the boy stayed at the scene, Kane said.
The SUV and the teen’s bicycle had “considerable damage,” he said.
No other information available. was immediately
Tony Brown, left, drops his head back in relief Tuesday as his attorneys, Philip Reizenstien, center, and Kristen Kawass, right, stood by his side after Miami-Dade prosecutors dropped his murder case.