Community Centers are the heart of their community. They offer classes, exercise, can be rented out…read morefor events, and they can even give a helping hand through their many programs staffed by city employees. A good community center offers varied opportunities for its residents of all ages. A shining example of a great community center is the Village Multipurpose Center adjacent to Sunrise's City Park and Village Elementary School. Constructed 2008 at a cost of 5.5 million dollars, the building was designed by SRS, a Zyscovich company. The Village Multipurpose Center was a result of a partnership between the City of Sunrise and the School Board of Broward County. This master planned multipurpose complex was created in a response to a community need for recreation, education, and extracurricular activities. The Village Multipurpose Center is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The center has a multipurpose gymnasium, five instructional classrooms, administrative spaces, restroom facilities, and a Little Free Library. Membership is free to all city residents and memberships for non city residents are available for a fee. Some of the programs offered here include adult Indoor walking, open play basketball, youth basketball, youth nights, story time, sidewalk chalk, Tunes N Trucks a music and food truck event, SOCA a step, dance ,and aerobics class, and fit kids and teens. The Village Multipurpose Center is a wonderful recreational resource that offers a diverse array of programs and amenities for residents of all ages. Now it is even better with the opening of the Village Art Plaza right outside its doors. The Village Art Plaza is a new event space and sculpture garden. This gorgeous outdoor space has a stage, sculptures, murals, and plenty of seating. The Village Art Plaza was designed to be a place where the community can gather for cultural events like a farmers market and food truck nights. With the opening of the art plaza, the City of Sunrise can easily stage community events inside and outdoors. Whether you're looking to engage in physical activities, enroll your children in educational programs, or simply connect with your community, the Village Multipurpose Center and adjacent Village Art Plaza offers a welcoming environment for all.

Ms. Lesly is the most disgustingly vile creature i've ever met in my life, she is so rude and VERY…read moreunfriendly, she argues with parents and screams at the kids all day! I've even heard she's run out multiple therapists for children with special needs. She clearly doesn't want the best for her students otherwise she wouldnt actively destroy any relationships she has with people whos only purpose is to help those kids. she even berates her fellow staff members and the boss lets her get away with all of it just because she does her paperwork on time. there's zero form of accountability or professionalism from her and it should be known.

I came here yesterday for a business meeting and was thoroughly impressed about the upgrades…read more I grew up and still live in this area and to see one of our buildings get a much needed upgrade is great. I don't know who was responsible but somebody does not play. That was the quickest construction project I've ever seen. This building offer a lot of services. You can pay your water bill or check out the library while you're waiting for your number to be called. There is also a clerk of courts office here and a cute little cafe. All on the ground level. The upper levels (I am assuming) are for other matters such as elected officials office and the such. Another thing that was added with the new construction was a parking garage. Parking used to be a bit challenging in the past and I think some people (me included) just didn't feel safe there. All of that has since changed. I haven't had to come to the Jospeh Caleb center outside of business which doesn't require me to frequent it that often outside of once a year. I am happy about the change and look forward to seeing more changes in the future as this is a great area to live in!

As a fan of history and 1920's architecture I had to stop when I saw this historical marker on the…read morecorner in front of the The Cushman School located in the historic MIMO Miami district on Biscayne Blvd. It is the oldest, continuously-operating, co-ed pre-kindergarten through grade 12, college preparatory, private school in Miami. The historic marker was erected by the Class of 1964 in cooperation with the Historical Association of Southern Florida. Dr. Laura Cushman moved from Iowa to Miami in the early 1900s. After becoming an accomplished teacher in the county school system, she decided to open The Cushman School on the front porch of her home in 1924 with just 12 students. In 1926 the school moved into the Mediterranean Revival building designed by Russell Skipton that is still used today. The classrooms were arranged to ger the breeze from Biscayne Bay. Windows were added to the school that came from the Royal Palm Hotel in downtown Miami. The school bell on the roof of the main building is the same plantation bell that was used to call the construction workers to Villa Vizcaya. Today the campus is a mixture of the historic buildings and new ones and the high school building is a few blocks south on Biscayne Boulevard. Dr. Cushman served as principal of the school for 52 years. She wanted the children who attended the school to not only be good scholars but also good citizens with the character traits of industry, responsibility, reliability, courtesy, honesty and integrity. In 1992 the United States Department of Education named The Cushman School as a National School of Excellence. Today, the school consists of a mix of historic and new buildings spread across a beautifully landscaped campus in a historic pocket of Miami. The high school building is a few blocks south on Biscayne Boulevard. As a fellow educator I loved learning about Dr. Cushman's educational philosophy which positively influences the development of the child but with all of the data input and test taking that goes on in schools today, is not emphasized enough in the public school system. How refreshing to see that there is a school developing tools and educational programs that help children reach their highest potential while still promoting social responsibility. All of that comes at a steep price however as tuition ranges from $33,000 to $43,000 a year at The Cushman School.

The Cushman School located at NE 60th and Biscayne provides Kindergarten through 8th grade. It is…read morelocated in the up and coming MiMo Biscayne Boulevard District. There are a limited number of private schools near downtoown Miami and this is one of the top schools. There is 24/7 security at the school.

The Miramar Branch Library is a sanctuary for book lovers and an institute of learning. Nestled in…read morea quiet corner of Miramar along a lake, this picturesque library is a haven for knowledge seekers. The Miramar Branch Library was born from a partnership between the City of Miramar, Broward County, Broward College, and Nova Southeastern University. It was conceived as a place in the Town Center where people could be educated and participate in a variety of programs. The library was completed in 2008 on a 4 acre parcel of land deeded by the City of Miramar. The ambiance of the library is welcoming and conducive to a peaceful reading and studying environment. The first floor library boasts a spacious and well-organized layout, making it easy to navigate through the extensive collection of books. The shelves are neatly arranged, and the variety of genres available caters to a diverse range of interests. The library collection includes 100,000 items. There is a multipurpose room that can host 100 people, tutoring rooms, study rooms, a conference room, 100 computer stations, wireless hot spots, a storytelling and program room, drive up book return, space for Friends of the Library, and public art by Robert Calvo. The second floor is used by Broward College and the third floor belongs to Nova Southeastern University. The librarians are knowledgeable, approachable, and always willing to assist patrons in finding the right book or resource. Their passion for literature and commitment to promoting a love for reading is evident in their interactions. The Miramar Branch Library offers a plethora of resources beyond books, including a computer section with high-speed internet access, making it an excellent place for research and study. The comfortable seating areas provide a quiet space for reading or working on personal projects. One aspect that particularly impressed me was the library's commitment to community engagement. They regularly host events, book clubs, and educational programs for all age groups. These initiatives foster a sense of community and intellectual growth among the library's patrons. The Miramar Branch Library has adapted well to the digital age, offering e-books and online resources alongside its traditional collection. This forward-thinking approach ensures that patrons have access to a wealth of information in various formats. I love how this library fosters a love for literature, a commitment to education, and welcoming atmosphere making it a standout destination for bibliophiles and learners alike. I highly recommend a visit to this library for anyone seeking a quiet place to read, study, or simply immerse themselves in the world of knowledge.

I've taken my daughter to this library when she was in school to get information for school…read moreprojects. When she learned about a certain bookstore, she ditched the library in favor of creating her own library . We have 3 large bookcases full of books that we purchased for her throughout her years. When she asked for a fourth bookcase, we had to consider retirement and told her to feed her need for books through the help of a library. So, here we are. Book card in hand and a new adventure. This library has everything.

The historic Sailboat Bend District is located in the southwestern section of the Ft. Lauderdale…read moreand is the city's only historic district. Long before the pioneers came to South Florida, in 1450 B.C., this was the home of the Native Tequesta Indian Tribe. Seminole later settled in the area in 1793 but were forced out by Major Lauderdale who built the first Fort Lauderdale here. By 1835 there were approximately 60 settlers on homesteads here. In 1899 one of the homesteaders was William H. Marshall who became the first mayor of Ft. Lauderdale. Sailboat Bend is the oldest neighborhood in the city, dating from the early 1900s until the 1950s with the majority of the homes having been built in the 1920's. The neighborhood is located on a sharp curve of the north bank of the New River and it runs north to SW 2nd St. and from SW 7 Ave. west to SW 11 Ave.. It was Ft. Lauderdale's first working class neighborhood. The houses are mainly are small, one-story, vernacular residences with Bungalow, Mission, or Mediterranean Revival style details. There are also larger homes located along the New River. The older homes were crafted from Dade County Pine which is impervious to termites. 75 of the homes in the neighborhood qualify as historic buildings. By the 1970's Sailboat Bend was in a rapid decline with drugs and prostitution common in the area. Concerned citizens decided to take back their neighborhood from crime and in the 1980's they formed the The Sailboat Bend Civic Association. They were able to get the illegal activity out of the neighborhood. In 1988 they hosted their first House and Garden Tour. In 1992 The Civic Association was able to obtain historic designation for Sailboat Bend and it is the only residential historic community in Fort Lauderdale to have one. Today the historic designation has been both a blessing and a curse to the neighborhood. The thing that saved it frustrates people who are looking to do work on their homes and have to jump through extra hoops to do so. It also annoys those who didn't have a historic building. While the historic designation drives up home values it also makes it more difficult for the working class people who have lived here for generations. As a fan of both history and architecture I love exploring Sailboat Bend when visiting family and friends. This is a wonderful neighborhood to drive through and it contains many historic elements like a 1920's Fire house, a swing bridge, and the Northside School that is now a cultural center.

Just north of the performing arts district and edges the New River. Our family is still a part of…read morethe community and we come here bi-weekly for the parks, beer pubs and pizza joints. Extremely difficult renovation codes in the historic district through the city of Ft Lauderdale. One hundred year old home are renovated beautifully keeping that historic charm. This area is low lying and does flood heavy, especially during 2024.

Thankfully this is my closest library because it is one of the best in the area when I think about…read moreit! The people that work here are always friendly and very knowledgeable when it comes to the new books, old books and where to find virtually any of the books on the racks! This library is always so clean and they always have a nice amount of copies of new releases so I don't need to be put on a waitlist to check the book out. I love that the library is two floors and the second floor is always so nice and quiet. The bathrooms here on both floors are always very clean as well and the tables are nicely spaced out in the library so I don't feel like I am ever hovering over other patrons while I am here! They have a friends of the library where you can buy second hand books and the deals they have on them are wonderful. I usually end up walking out with a stack of books way too high, for less than ten dollars. The best part is the money goes directly towards the library and helping run events that are open to the general public!

Cute and quaint. Easy to walk in, get something, and leave. I have checked out numerous books,…read moremovies, shows,and games. Can't beat free and they are generous with the amount they let you get.

Excellent selection of books to check out and to buy. Staff is very friendly and courteous. Out of…read moreall the libraries in the area I like this one the best.

Stirling library is located on Stirling road west of I-95 and east of 411. They have a great…read moreselection of books , movies and cds. I like all the events they have like book reviews , quilting , story time for kids , senior exercise and all is free. I went to get movies for the week and to listen to some new music . This library is clean , employees are helpful and parking is easy. Also if senior need community hours for high school this is the place.

This is a beautiful multi floor library that is shared with the nova university. The library has a…read morelot of light mini books and different computers to use. There are several floors of seating. The library itself is pretty quiet but gets louder throughout the day so I like to go in the morning. They have a pay by phone parking lot just a few blocks away.

Absolutely beautiful library. This is a massive private university library located on campus at…read moreNova Southwestern University in Davie. Although it's a private library, it is available to the public. My friend told me about this library as her middle school son volunteered here during the summer. She said it was really nice during the summer when it was quiet and they had the library to themselves. I went during the weekday last week. In the midst of back to school college students everywhere! Lol. They have security by the main entrance and college students are asked to scan their university IDs. All other guests will be let in by the guard. You must have a Broward County Libraries card to check out books at this location. The nice thing is, you can return the books to any Broward County Library and they will ship the book directly to Alvin Sherman Library. So convenient. When you walk into the library, the circulation desk is on the left, there is a computer working lab area on the right, and if you go straight, you'll find the children's book location, there are new books located on the spinning racks next to the stairs, and there is also a hidden bestseller books room located next to the circulation desk and entrance/exit. I believe there are four floors in this library. Tons and tons of tables and rooms for study areas for the college students. My favorite part about this museum is the Chihuly display on the second floor, they fancy! Another fascinating thing about this library, are the moving bookshelves! You heard me right. They have digital buttons where you can move the actual bookshelves. It's such a smart way to save space. Brilliant. Unfortunately, they don't have any Friends of the Library books for sale at this location. But the librarian did mention they have two big annual book sales per year. You can sign up for newsletter on their website. There are also two book returns at the roundabout outside of the library in case you don't want to park and get out of your car. There is a parking garage but you have to pay for parking using the park by mobile app. I believe it was $1.61 per hour. Students park for free with their NSU parking stickers.