​by County Commissioner Hal Valeche

It is an honor for me to be serving another term as your District 1 County Commissioner.  There is much work ahead and I look forward to what we can accomplish together.

Growth continues in Palm Beach County, with numerous projects approved in northern county cities including Palm Beach Gardens and Jupiter now moving forward and coming out of the ground.  With that new growth and economic development comes an increase in traffic.  The County plays an important role in working with municipal leaders and transportation agencies to properly plan for the anticipated traffic and to ensure that the roadway network can handle the trips and keep vehicles moving and roads safe for drivers and pedestrians alike.  There is increasing emphasis on designing roads that are safer for users of all ages, including pedestrians and bicyclists in addition to motorists.  The Florida Department of Transportation's Complete Streets Policy is providing guidance to local governments and agencies to continue incorporating more features like separated bike lanes, pathways and well-marked crosswalks in design plans as we upgrade and repair our roads.  These elements also help enhance property values, encourage physical activity and reduce negative environmental impacts.

County officials are in the process of prioritizing back-logged infrastructure projects and will first tackle the projects in most dire need of improvement, from road resurfacing, bridges, street lights, parks, and other public facilities.  Those projects will be funded over the next ten years through the additional penny sales tax that voters approved this past November.

In December, we celebrated the official opening of the 230-acre Cypress Creek South Natural Area, the county's newest area of preserved land on Indiantown Road in Jupiter, just west of Riverbend/Loxahatchee River Battlefield Park. 

Cypress Creek South is part of a $20 million expansion of the existing Cypress Creek Natural Area to the north side of Indiantown Road, adding to the unique ecotourism opportunities in the north end of the county.  In fact, of the total 31,000 acres of natural areas in Palm Beach County, I am proud to tell you that 25,000 acres are north of Northlake Boulevard.

The natural areas are maintained for passive use, including hiking, bird and wildlife watching, horseback riding, bicycling, fishing and kayaking.  They provide the visitor with a taste of old Florida and the opportunity to discover our diverse ecosystem.  These precious lands are open sunrise to sunset and are free for all to enjoy.  The County's aggressive program over the past thirty years to acquire and preserve environmentally sensitive lands through voter-approved bonds and state matching funds has set an example for other counties in Florida.  Palm Beach County has earned national awards for its land acquisition program, and I hope you will explore these jewels preserved for future generations.

As always, if there is any way that I or my staff can assist you, please do not hesitate to contact me at (561) 355-2201 or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.