An old fire station just west of U.S. 27 could become a site for after-school programs for neighborhood children.
"We're currently considering a proposal from a nonprofit organization to lease the building for after-school programs, which would be educational and recreational," said Dean Combs, the Pembroke Pines Parks and Recreation director. He declined to name the organization.
The building is at 21451 Johnson St.
From 1985 to 2000, the city operated a fire station out of the metal, barn-sized structure, which is across from the Holly Lake Mobile Home Park. When the city opened a new fire station at 19900 Pines Blvd. about four years ago, it turned over the building to the Parks and Recreation Department, which is using it for storage.
The nonprofit group would have to spend about $80,000 to make the building suitable for an after-school program, Combs said.
Vice Mayor Frank Ortis suggested that the Parks and Recreation Department find a way to use the building for after-school programs for children in the Holly Lake and Chapel Trail areas. He said he would like the city to somehow be more involved in the programs run out of the station, rather than merely handing over the power to another organization.
"It'd be nice if we had some control, so we'd be able to help make it work," Ortis said.
The children would have the use of a revitalized ball field across the street. Last month, volunteers, Pembroke Pines police officers and Holly Lake residents, who own the field, refurbished the field at the entrance to the 560-unit mobile home park. They put up outfield fences, brought in benches and remade the infield, laying down new red clay. The field has been part of the neighborhood since the area was developed in 1972.
"A lot of work went into improving that field, and I'm sure it's going to be used by the residents," said June Geide, treasurer of the Holly Lake association.
Pembroke Pines police Sgt. Jeff Desilets, with guidance from City Commissioner Angelo Castillo, led the project to renovate the field.
The 3,000-square-foot fire station was built in 1985 to replace a trailer firefighters had used. Most of the firefighters' calls were in response to accidents along U.S. 27 or emergencies at the now-defunct Hollywood Sportatorium concert arena at Pines Boulevard and 166th Avenue, which closed in 1988.
