In response to requests from Hollywood residents to preserve as public open space the property formerly known as the Sunset Golf Course at 2727 Johnson Street, funding to acquire and develop this property into a passive public park with nature trails and other amenities was part of the General Obligation Bond (GOB) approved by voters in a Special Election held March 12, 2019. The 45 acre parcel is privately owned by Mr. Richmond Italia, President of Richgreens Management, Inc. The City is currently in negotiations with the property owner to purchase the site and in accordance with the City Charter has obtained an official property appraisal. Any purchase agreement will require City Commission approval and will be discussed as part of a public City Commission meeting.
While operating as a golf course for several decades, the land became contaminated due to the use of herbicides and other chemicals commonly applied to the grass and greens of golf courses. Elevated levels of arsenic are often found on former golf course sites. As part of a Soil Management Pilot Test Program permitted through Broward County and its Environmental Engineering and Permitting Division, water treatment residuals from the lime softening of drinking water at the Charles W. Fiveash Regional Water Treatment Plant will be blended into the soil on a portion of the site. The use of this material, which is mostly composed of calcium carbonate, is allowed by Florida Department of Environmental Protection as clean fill and as a way to remediate low levels of arsenic found in topsoil. Regulation of this effort is done through Broward County. Through the completion of the approved Pilot Test Plan, it will be determined if the blending of the calcium carbonate material is sufficiently reducing the arsenic on this site to acceptable levels. If the results show success, then the property owner can seek to expand the blending of clean fill into the soil to remediate the entire site.