Community advisory panel says downtown should be more family friendly, walkable and connected; residents wary of 'attainable housing' label

The Community Advisory Panel presented results on what residents envision for Boca Raton's downtown area west of Dixie Highway, reporting strong turnout and a clear set of priorities for walkability, entertainment and connectivity.

Linda Marines, chair of the Community Advisory Panel, told council the Jan. 18 conversation drew roughly 200 participants and used an interactive sticker exercise and roundtable sessions to surface priorities. "We were surprised by some of the results that we saw," Marines said, noting a high number of green stickers for fixed-route shuttle service, bike paths and shared-use paths.

Key findings: Residents expressed strong interest in a circular shuttle connecting the Brightline station with downtown destinations, more evening and family-friendly activities (a farmers market, outdoor music, food trucks), and support for mom-and-pop retail over large chains. A large cohort favored sports and recreation amenities (skate park, tennis courts) and urged better advertising of existing community-center programs. Some attendees were skeptical of the term "attainable housing," which survey takers often marked with red stickers; the panel reported residents felt the phrase carried negative connotations and suggested reframing as "workforce housing" in some discussions.

Mobility and safety: The panel recorded requests for a pedestrian bridge to the Brightline station, improved crosswalk lighting on Palmetto Park Road, and safer crossings at the 4th Diagonal. Several council members and panelists urged pairing shuttle planning with improved landing zones and parking strategies so the shuttle serves Wildflower Park, Meisner Park and the beach effectively.

Public concerns and downtown activation: Wildflower Park and Silver Palm Park were flagged repeatedly as underused assets; residents recommended more activation (music, markets, kayak rentals) and additional policing or evening programming to address safety and homelessness concerns. The panel also noted attendees wanted the new government campus to be a source of community activity and multiuse space.

Why it matters: The panel's findings are timely for the city's strategic-planning discussions and for station-area mobility decisions tied to Brightline. Council members asked staff to consider ways to broaden input from the city's west side and to explore quick-survey tools (QR codes, state-of-the-city polling) to collect additional data.

Next steps: The panel recommended follow-up public sessions and making materials from the January event available to council and staff. Council members said they would consider the recommendations during planning and asked staff to explore shuttle/circulator options and targeted outreach to underrepresented neighborhoods.

Representative quote: "A free shuttle transportation system within downtown is a valuable amenity," the panel presentation said; Marines added that attendees suggested partnering with local businesses to offer discounts and day passes tied to events.