HISTORY

What started in the early 20^th century, as a vast bean patch owned by Henry "Bud" Lyons developed into one of the most desirable residential areas to live in Broward County.  Renowned for its emphasis of superior designs in landscaping and green areas along with a family-friendly atmosphere, Coral Springs' 40 years of incorporation as a city evolved majestically into the premier city in which to "live, work and raise a family" in South Florida.

Coral Ridge Properties (CRP) started to steadily acquire Lyons' "bean patch" in 1960 and envisioned a master-planned community boasting of traditional Southern living as the "City in the Country".  This investment resulted in an award-winning community drawing residents at tremendous rates in the 1980s and 1990s. Attracted by the city's innovative use of technology in its homes and services, young families moved to Coral Springs to enjoy all it had to offer, from top-rated schools, athletic facilities and idyllic surroundings to raise their families.

NEIGHBORHOOD (What it is like):

It has been an emphasis from the beginning from Coral Ridge Properties to create the flair of country living along with the practical use of modern and emerging technology in its homes.  In the outside, streets and walkways are cleanly manicured with lavish landscaping full of trees and foliage.  Recognized as a "Tree City, USA" for already 19 years (http://www.arborday.net/programs/treecities.cfm?chosenstate=Florida), Coral Springs makes use of this practice by enforcing strict building codes to enhance the natural beauty found in many of its neighborhoods and commercial areas. 

The city now enjoys more and more neighborhood feeling of accomplishment and progress with many new celebrations such as the upcoming "Viva! Coral Springs" extravaganza celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month highlighting the melting pot that Coral Springs has lately enjoyed.

In addition, Coral Springs' residents enjoy cultural enrichment through the its Museum of Art and the Center for the Arts, both recognized as leaders of contemporary arts in South Florida.  The Museum has hosted countless artists depicting a full range of art in sculpture and paintings.  It also serves as a complement to the Center of Arts by opening its displays 60 minutes before show times.  The Center of the Arts has grown from the simple use as a municipal auditorium and gymnasium to a state of the art visual and performing arts center attracting big name Broadway shows and performers.

STATISTICS/DEMOGRAPHICS:

http://www.coralsprings.org/facts/CoralSpringsAtAGlance.pdf

Coral Springs incorporated as a city in 1963 with three residents who were actually employees of the Coral Ridge Properties.  By 1980, the city fully detached itself from CRP into an independently run government system and by that time, its population already reached some 34,000 residents.  In 2003, this number exploded to well over 124,000, comprised mostly of white, educated and family-oriented people.  Nevertheless, ethnic diversity has been a priority for the city in attracting young, upwardly affluent African-American, Hispanic American and foreign-born professionals.

As the fourth largest city in Broward County and 11^th largest in Florida with 23.5 square miles of area, Coral Springs contains over 21,000 single-family residences with a median income capita per family over $50,000.  This has been beneficial in helping it boast a taxable base of over $4.7 billion.

Its public schools are constantly regarded as some of the best in Broward County with a higher that national average in high school and college graduation rates.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT:

The "City in the Country" aimed at developing a government that served its residents with "customer-focus" and a "quality-oriented" ideal.  As the years drew by, the now independent city experienced an explosive growth rate that even they did not envision nor knew how to handle in regards to its city services.

With this goal in mind, it self-imposed a Total Quality Management plan to overhaul and update its services and operations and create a government system of services that produced results in the "unconventional" way of a corporation.  The wanted results came to be a success in earning accolades in 1997 with the "Florida Governor's Sterling Award", the "Neighborhood of the Year" award from Neighborhoods USA in 1998, and most recently in 2004 by receiving for the first time the "Florida City of Excellence Designation" by the Florida League of Cities.

Coral Springs' government is comprised of a five-member City Commission, all nonpartisan and elected at large with elections held every 2 years.

The city has been successful in providing superior service to its residents with full online city services for permits, licenses and payments.  Another innovation, is its "City Hall in The Mall" providing residents the convenience of service to their questions and concerns from the Coral Square Mall.  In addition, Coral Springs also produces and broadcasts "CityTV25", an innovative 24 hour television-programming channel aimed exclusively to its residents.  This channel is aired through local cable service.

PARKS & RECREATION:

The average year-round weather of 76 degrees Fahrenheit in Coral Springs affords its residents to enjoy all its many and varied parks and recreation facilities.  Ranging from a state of the art Aquatic Complex (www.aquaticcomplex.com) who is proud to have sent four of its league swimmers to the 2004 Summer Olympic Games in Athens, Greece, to the very friendly Bark Park (http://www.toppetcare.com/) for dogs to enjoy romping free of their leashes.

Other facilities include the Sportplex (www.sportsplexatcs.com) with its indoor soccer fields, "incredibleICE!" (www.incredibleice.com) and its twin skating rinks used for the recreational skater and organized ice hockey teams, and the Coral Springs Tennis Center (http://www.cstennis.org) having South Florida's only red-clay tennis courts and hosting the US Open Team Tennis Tournament and Seafood Extravaganza in September.

Coral Springs is also proud to take an active role in preserving a remaining part of land within its city limits that neighbor the marsh lands in the Everglades National Park.  It is done in an effort to create a legacy for its children and future residents in environmental preservation, ecology and wildlife all being such a significant part of the South Florida experience.

Coral Springs' desire of athletics and the environment are beautifully merged in creating the healthy outdoor lifestyle that has attracted prospective residents in droves and its current ones more than proud to call it their home.

BUSINESS CLIMATE:

Coral Springs originally started as a sleepy "bedroom town" in the northwestern end of Broward County for families who wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of its big city neighbors.  With the advent of the Sawgrass Expressway in the 1990s, it gave way to a population explosion not only in residents but also in corporate interest.

The Coral Springs Chamber of Commerce (http://www.cschamber.com/) expressed this need in creating the Coral Springs Economic Development Foundation in 1993 to attend to the demand from companies wanting to relocate or set up additional offices in Coral Springs.  Leading the way in economic interest was a real estate developing surge of luxurious residential communities like Heron Bay, corporate relocation within the Coral Springs Corporate Park housing companies such as First Data and attracting big name hotel chains such as Marriot.  The Coral Springs Marriot Hotel, Golf Club and Convention Center at Heron Bay is a beautifully designed haven for both tourists and business travelers containing a championship golf course that hosted the nationally televised Honda Classic.

Another accomplishment serving as an opening highlight of the new millennium for the city of Coral Springs is the superior rating of "AAA" received from Fitch-ICBA and an "Aaa" rating from Moody's Investor Services, both affirming the city's Total Quality Management master plan as a successful model to follow.