As I See It: A New Future for E. Pat Larkins Center

By David Miller

Sometimes people just don’t get it. Whether it’s because their brain can’t process change, emotions get triggered, or some people are simply stubborn and resistant to it.

But one thing is clear: the E. Pat Larkins Center is valuable to the citizens of this city, especially residents in Northwest Pompano Beach. That’s why the community must continue to have a center that proudly carries the name E. Pat Larkins Center, clearly displayed on the building.

Many residents now in their 60s and 70s loved and regularly used the current building, which the city constructed in 2005. For two decades, it has served the community well. Now, 20 years later, there is an opportunity to upgrade the facility and create something even better.

Upgrades open the door to new possibilities. With imagination, the center could host larger events, concerts, and programs that bring new life and activity to the Northwest area.

At the same time, some residents question why, in a tourism-driven economy, original landmarks are sometimes removed during redevelopment. That question ultimately falls to the city’s decision makers.

The downtown redevelopment project includes three key elements: a parking garage, a new E. Pat Larkins Center, and a new City Hall. The funding allocated is meant to begin those three projects, not to be spread across every new idea that emerges during development.

There is also a generational perspective being raised. Residents in their 40s are asking what their next 20 years will look like. If billions of dollars are being invested in downtown and the Northwest community, many believe the next generation deserves a larger, modern facility not simply renovations to the existing one.

Some have suggested preserving the current building, but that proposal always raises the same question: who would fund the preservation?

Many residents feel that simply renovating the current center may not meet the community’s expectations because the building itself has limitations.

Pompano Beach is not a poor city. The taxes residents pay should reflect continued investment in modern community spaces and a quality of life that moves forward with the community’s growth.

For many in Northwest Pompano, the goal is clear: a center that honors the legacy of E. Pat Larkins while creating a larger, modern space that can serve the community for decades to come.