Rutherford Park & Lake Wyman Restoration Project

Update: July 26, 2023

Dredging, boardwalk construction and planting of the Lake Wyman/Rutherford area continues.

A variety of mangroves have been planted on the south shoreline - red (in the water), black and white (further up the shoreline slope) varieties. New native plants, like wild coffee, have been added to support the habitat restoration.

Certified arborists have been working with the team on trimming mangroves for the dredging of the restored kayak trail. New fitness trails have been cleared.

Update: December 2, 2022

Work on the Lake Wyman/James A. Rutherford Park restoration and improvements has begun. The City of Boca Raton passed Resolution No. 126-2022 on November 8, 2022, authorizing the agreement for Construction Manager at Risk Services with Burkhardt Construction, Inc. for the project.

As part of the City’s Waterfront Master Plan, this $9.6 million dollar restoration and improvement project to the parks will include:

Restoration of the existing boardwalks and installation of a new boardwalk
Pavilion restorations and a new observation pier
ADA & traditional kayak launches
Restored canoe and kayak trails
Mangrove habitat restoration and invasive species removal
Shoreline stabilization to smooth out current shoreline and add in larger rocks
New walking trails

Initial construction and improvements to the parks began the week of November 28, 2022 and will continue through the Spring of 2024.

The parks and playgrounds will remain open during the renovation with some areas fenced off for the work, equipment, and materials storage.

Update: December 7, 2021

The City of Boca Raton approved the initial agreement for Construction Manager at Risk Services with Burkhardt Construction on September 24, 2021, for the Rutherford Park & Lake Wyman Restoration Project.

This approval also included pre-construction services.

Since execution of the agreement, Burkhardt Construction has been working with the City’s design consultant to review the construction plans and develop the bid packages. Burkhardt Construction issued the bid packages for the varied disciplines for this project in mid-November 2021.

Burkhardt construction will review the submitted bids by the end of December 2021 and will provide City staff with the draft Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for this project in January 2022.

Following City staff review of the draft GMP, it will be presented to City Council for approval in early in 2022.

Update: July 27, 2021

In March 2021, the City issued a Request for Proposal (RFP) to hire a "Construction Manager at Risk" to construct the Rutherford Park/Lake Wyman park project. This agreement with the Contractor as well as the pre-construction work required prior to construction commencement is scheduled to go on the agenda for either the August or September City Council meeting for approval.

Once this agreement is approved, next steps involve:

The contractor will have to conduct some pre-construction work associated with the park.
Upon completion of the pre-construction work, a revised agreement for the Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) for construction will go to City Council for approval.
Once this second agreement is approved, the City will commence construction work.

The City anticipates construction commencement in late 2021.

Update: September 29, 2020

The City of Boca Raton has applied for and obtained both the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Permit and the USACE permit for construction of the park.

Additionally, the City has applied and been awarded a reimbursable grant from the Florida Inland Navigational District (FIND) for over $1.38 million to assist in the cost of the construction of the Rutherford Park & Lake Wyman Restoration Project.

The City anticipates going out to bid for this project in early 2021 with construction commencement in the late spring / early summer 2021.

Click on images below to view full size.

Update: November 19, 2019

Lake Wyman / Rutherford Park Improvements Public Meeting

There will be a Lake Wyman / Rutherford Park Improvements Public Meeting during this Parks and Recreation Board Meeting on Tuesday, December 3 at 5:15pm at the Spanish River Library.

Improvements include: