Welcome to Oakland Park
Our small city, which more than 41,000 people call home, is nestled in Broward County just north of Fort Lauderdale and sits a short distance from the Atlantic Ocean. We have a wonderfully diverse culture and are proud to be one of the premier resort cities in Southeastern Florida. Whether you live in Oakland Park or are simply passing through, there is plenty for you to do and see here.
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Tips on Staying Safe While Visiting Oakland Park, Miami, and Fort Lauderdale, FL - From a Personal Injury Lawyer
Oakland Park is one of the most popular up and coming small cities in the United States. There’s tons to do here. During the day, the city is quite family-friendly. Explore a local park or take part in a local event. At night, there are dozens of trendsetting restaurants, clubs, and bars to choose from. There’s something for everyone in Oakland Park.
Thinking of Visiting Miami, FL - Remember to Stay Safe
Miami is only 55 minutes away from Oakland Park, FL. Given its proximity, a lot of people visiting Oakland Park also take a few days to visit Miami, FL. While Miami is great, it’s important to stay safe. You need to make sure your trip is memorable for all the right reasons. To help you do this, we’ve highlighted tips and suggestions for how to keep yourself and your family safe while visiting Oakland Park, Fort Lauderdale, and the Miami area. The following tips come from Sagi Shaked, a personal injury lawyer in Miami with experience representing injury victims.
Explore Oakland Park With Others
Life is more exciting when you share your adventures with others. It’s also safer, too. No city is has a crime rate of zero. You’re less likely to be the target of a crime if you explore Oakland Park with friends or family. When you have more eyes and ears, you’ll be able to identify potential threats to your safety.
Consider Public Transportation or Walk As You Explore the City
It’s hard to navigate the streets of a city you don’t know. You’ll probably have to rely on GPS or a paper map to help you get around Oakland Park when you visit. Unfortunately, this means that you’ll have to take your eyes off the road. Focusing on something other than the road and traffic around you, if only for a moment or two, is dangerous. Distracted driving contributes to a staggering number of traffic accidents in Oakland Park every year.
Rather than trying to navigate the city on your own, consider taking publication transportation or hiring a local who knows the city streets well. This way, you can get around the city safely and actually enjoy the sights as they go by.
Even better, consider walking the beautiful streets of Oakland Park. The new downtown area has brand new walkways and sidewalks leading you directly to some of the city’s most popular attractions.
Get Familiar With Local Safety Laws
Accidents happen when people sharing the road - in a car, on a bike, or on foot - don’t obey local traffic and safety laws. Who has the right of way at an intersection, pedestrians, bicyclists, or vehicles? Is it legal to cross anywhere other than a crosswalk in Oakland Park? Can cars make a right turn on red at an intersection? Are bicycles allowed on sidewalks, or do they have to share the road with other vehicles? Knowing the answers to these questions can allow you to get around Oakland Park safely.
Watch Your Step
You should feel safe when you visit attractions in Oakland Park. Property owners in the city will do the best they can to keep the premises in good condition. Legally, they have to. If there’s a spill at the Funky Buddha Brewery, it has to be mopped up before you can slip and fall. If electrical wires have fallen across the sidewalk, the city has to tend to that issue immediately. You can help to keep yourself safe by being aware of your surroundings and using a little extra caution as you explore.
What Should I Do If I Get Hurt in Oakland Park?
Sometimes an accident will happen even if you’re cautious. Since you’re visiting a new city, it’s easy for this to stress you out. Knowing what to do and who to call in the event you get hurt can make a tough situation easier.
Report the Accident. Always report an accident as soon as you can after it happens. Call the local Oakland Park police and ask to have an officer dispatched the scene. They’ll conduct a preliminary investigation and gather evidence that could be valuable to you.
See a Doctor: If your injuries are severe, you should take an ambulance directly to the Florida Medical Center or another local hospital. Prompt medical attention will help to reduce the risk of complications. A doctor will give you a thorough medical exam to make sure that your injuries are diagnosed and treated.
Document Your Accident and Injuries: Write down the names of anyone who witnessed your accident or fall. Take pictures of the scene and your injuries. Record your thoughts and memories of the event. The evidence you gather can come in handy down the line.
Discuss Your Accident With an Attorney: If your injuries are severe, you may want to call a local personal injury attorney to discuss a potential lawsuit. In Florida, you can seek compensation from another person (or people) if they’ve caused you to suffer an injury. An attorney will be familiar with the laws and procedures that apply to your case. They’ll be able to put you in the best position to get the money you deserve.
Enjoy All That Oakland Park Has to Offer
Oakland Park is a great small resort city to explore with friends and family. Simply keep these tips and suggestions in mind to maximize your experience and getaway in southern Florida.
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At 8.1 square miles, Oakland Park is considerably smaller than most other cities in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. However, do not be fooled by the city’s relatively small size. Oakland Park is home to some of the most popular restaurants, shops, hotels, and resorts in the area.
The city is also known as one of the up-and-coming culinary spots on the East Coast. You’ll want to make a reservation at the most popular spots in Oakland Park while you still can.
Recent efforts to revitalize the city’s downtown district have been incredibly successful. The downtown area is the most recent draw for tourists, who have been increasingly flocking to our small city. In 2015, more than 2.6 million tourists visited Oakland Park and spent more than $1.6 billion within the city limits.
Recreation and Activities in Oakland Park
Whether you live in the city or are just passing through, you will not have any trouble finding something to do in Oakland Park.
While Oakland Park is small, it does not lack beautiful outdoor space. Several parks can be found within the city limits, including:
- Art Park (featuring open space, a seating wall, and art events)
- J. Dewey Hawkins Landing (featuring a boat ramp, canoe/kayak launch, docks, and picnic area)
- Cherry Creek Park (featuring a jogging track and exercise stations)
- Dr. Carter G. Woodson Park (featuring a picnic pavilion, playground, horseshoe pit, and basketball courts)
- Jaco Pastorius Community Center & Park (featuring open space, a walking path, and art)
- Lakeside Sand Pine Reserve (featuring a 5-acre nature park, trails, and observation deck)
- Lloyd Estates Park (featuring a shaded playground, benches, and accessible picnic area)
- North Andrews Gardens Park (featuring a playground, picnic tables, basketball court, and open green space)
- Veterans Park (featuring a lighted walking path, military displays, and an observation deck)
- Royal Palm Park (featuring open green space, lighted walking paths, exercise stations, and a picnic pavilion).
Oakland Park is also an extremely dog-friendly city! The Oakland Park Bark Park, located at 971 N.W. 38th Street, is the premier dog park in the area, featuring multiple fenced areas as well as agility training and exercise devices.
There is no shortage of opportunities to play or watch sports in Oakland Park. If you want to play recreationally, several of the city’s parks are equipped with lighted:
- Basketball courts
- Tennis courts
- Racquetball and handball courts
- Baseball/softball fields, and
- Soccer fields.
The city also hosts multiple leagues and camps for children, teens, and adults. Popular kids’ programs include basketball, flag football, soccer, while popular adult programs include basketball, soccer, and ultimate frisbee.
Americas Got Soccer
Did you know that Oakland Park is the home of the largest indoor soccer facility in the country? Americas Got Soccer is an air-conditioned facility that boasts three state-of-the-art artificial turf fields. The facility partners with the city and hosts soccer leagues, camps, and even some professional matches.
Feel free to stop by the facility’s renowned sports bar, Pumas Sports Tavern, to enjoy one of 50 beers on tap while you watch an international match on one of several HD screens. Or, stop by Smoothini after your workout to refuel with a healthy snack.
Many of the Oakland Park’s recreational and educational programs are run by the city’s popular library. The library offers a variety of programs for children, teens, and adults, including:
- Free tax preparation services
- Homework help
- Chess Mates
- Mentorship programs
- Public computer and printing services, and more.
Did you know that nearly 8 percent of the population in Oakland Park have German ancestry? This may be why Oakland Park has one of the most popular Oktoberfest celebrations in Broward County. Each year, the city partners with Funky Buddha Brewery to throw a three-day Oktoberfest celebration at Jaco Pastorius Park, complete with beer, food, amusement rides, music, and more.
Oakland Park is one of the premier up-and-coming culinary arts cities in the country. The city’s downtown revitalization efforts have paved the way for the thriving culinary scene. While the rejuvenation is still a work in progress, Oakland Park is aiming to highlight and embrace the city’s agricultural roots. The downtown district will feature community gardens, farm-to-table kitchens, and boutiques that specialize in kitchen-related goods and decor.
In addition to agriculture-related outdoor space, the city is also paving the way for the influx of new and exciting culinary endeavors. Funky Buddha Brewery, which has been a staple in the city since it opened its doors in 2013, has proven that Oakland Park is next hot culinary arts spot. In the coming years, many new restaurants will open their doors and treat the city’s residents and visitors to unique and exciting culinary adventures.