Currie Park Redesign: A Vision for Community, Culture, and Coastal Resilience
Table of Contents
Currie Park’s redesign in West Palm Beach blends community vision, cultural preservation, and coastal resilience to create a vibrant, future-ready public space along the Intracoastal.
Currie Park in West Palm Beach, Florida, is undergoing a major transformation to become a vibrant, inclusive, and environmentally resilient urban oasis. Led by the landscape architecture firm OLIN, the 13.6-acre park redesign focuses on reconnecting the community with the city’s waterfront while preserving cultural heritage and enhancing ecological health.
Community-Centered Design
At the heart of this redesign is extensive community involvement. Residents, schools, nonprofits, and government agencies collaborated with the design team to shape a park that reflects local needs and history. Currie Park will cater to diverse visitors with spaces for large events, daily recreation, and quiet reflection.
Honoring Cultural Roots
A standout feature is the preservation and celebration of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Landmark. This site anchors the park’s southern end and highlights the contributions of African American communities in the Palm Beaches. It’s part of a broader heritage trail commemorating the area’s rich cultural tapestry.
Ecological Innovation
The redesign embraces sustainable landscape practices. Native plant communities will line the park’s western edge, offering beauty, shade, and education. Living shoreline strategies protect sensitive marine life and strengthen the park’s defenses against sea level rise. Elevating the site enhances resilience while respecting the natural environment.
Key Features and Amenities
Visitors can look forward to:
- A public art plaza
- A tidal amphitheater
- A boundless nature playground
- Fitness zones and multi-use trails
- Native gardens and shaded areas
- An expanded pier system
- A new resiliency hub serving as a community center
The park will also retain its essential public boat ramp—currently the city’s only one—ensuring continued access to the water.
A Future Landmark
Shortlisted for the 2024 WLA Awards, the Currie Park redesign is more than a facelift. It’s a forward-looking model for how public spaces can blend culture, ecology, and community engagement to create places of lasting value.
For more information on urban resilience and coastal design in South Florida, visit Worth Insurance’s resources on flood and property coverage.
Sources
- https://www.theolinstudio.com/currie-park-redesign
- https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2025-03-07/currie-park-west-palm-beach
- https://www.discoversouthflorida.com/blog/new-vision-for-currie-park-west-palm-beach/
- https://www.oftmw.com/post/currie-park-breaks-ground-west-palm-beach-launches-ambitious-35m-waterfront-redesign
- https://worldlandscapearchitect.com/currie-park-redesign-west-palm-beach-usa-olin/
- https://redevelopment.net/2017/02/west-palm-beach-currie-park-has-ambitious-redesign/
- https://www.cumminscederberg.com/currie-park-redevelopment-approved/
- https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13574809.2016.1234334
- https://www.padeasla.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/P_AP_12_IMG_Currie-Park-Redesign.pdf
- https://palmbeachcivic.org/our-town-by-william-kelly-currie-park-redesign-breaks-ground-in-west-palm-beach/
- https://www.erdmananthony.com/Projects/Our-Projects/project/486
- https://www.wpb.org/Departments/Community-Redevelopment-Agency/NorthwoodPleasant-City/Currie-Corridor
- https://www.architectmagazine.com/project-gallery/currie-park-waterfront_o
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