"This stunning, unprogrammed park" is how Mayor Rich Walker described Wedge Preserve Park in an April message published by Parkland Talk. In the same message he said the 36-acre site would be unlike any of the City's green spaces.
That word matters more this month than it did in April. The grand opening is set for Saturday, December 5, with a ceremony at 9:30 a.m., TAPinto Parkland reported on October 29. Look at what the city has scheduled between now and then and almost all of it runs on a clock: a market from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., a hayride from 6 to 8:30 p.m., a ceremony that lasts an hour. Wedge Preserve is the first new public space this season built for the hours in between.
Thirty-Six Acres at Hillsboro and Nob Hill
The park takes up the northeast corner of Hillsboro Boulevard and Nob Hill Road. It took a while to get here. According to the City's FY2026 adopted budget, Parkland bought the land in fiscal year 2020 and annexed it into the city for the specific purpose of building a park. The guaranteed maximum price for construction was approved in fiscal year 2025. The groundbreaking was June 23, 2025, Parkland Talk reported. The budget projected completion by November 2026, and the December 5 date lines up with that.
The mayor also described what the site used to be. In the Parkland Talk message, he wrote that Wedge Preserve "has transformed from a backfill site into a vibrant, multidimensional construction zone with identifiable features," and added, "yes, you are going to love the pickleball courts."
Here is what the October TAPinto report and the mayor's April message list, grouped by how a visit tends to go:
For a pickup game or a scheduled league night
- Eight covered pickleball courts
- Four lighted basketball courts
- Two baseball and softball fields
- Two multipurpose athletic fields
For kids
- A Ninja Warrior-style obstacle course with a finale tower
- A beach-themed splash pad
- An airport-themed playground with a neighboring play village
For a slower morning
- Walking paths through preserved natural areas
- Ponds with boardwalks and an overlook deck
- Open green space and gathering areas
For an event
- A community building for classes, gatherings and private events
- An open-air event space for community gatherings
Two details on that list stand out. The pickleball courts are covered, which counts for a lot in a South Florida afternoon. The mayor's message pitches them as "the fastest-growing sport across all ages." And the community building is meant to be rented. Walker named birthday celebrations, receptions and family reunions as the kinds of events it can host, along with classes. So the same park that offers a drop-in walk by the pond also gives Parkland one more room for a family gathering.
TAPinto reported that Wedge Preserve was designed to combine traditional athletic facilities with recreation for residents of all ages, which sets it apart from the city's existing parks. The ball fields will fill up on their own schedules. The ponds, paths, splash pad and ninja tower are the parts with no schedule at all.
Until Then, the Calendar Runs Out of Ranch Road
For the next month, the city's biggest public gatherings happen at one address: the Equestrian Center at Temple Park, 8350 Ranch Road. The Parkland Farmers' Market opened its season there on November 1 with a Public Safety theme. Everything else on the city's November calendar runs on a set block of time, from Veterans Park on University Drive to the Parkland Library and the Parkland Recreation and Enrichment Center, known as P-REC, on Trails End.
Here are the dates still ahead from the City of Parkland calendar:
| Date | Event | Time | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wed., Nov. 11 | Veterans Day Ceremony | 11 a.m. to noon | Veterans Park, 6620 University Dr. |
| Fri., Nov. 13 | Hayride & Bonfire | 6 to 8:30 p.m. | Equestrian Center at Temple Park |
| Sun., Nov. 15 | Farmers' Market, Pet Expo | 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. | Equestrian Center at Temple Park |
| Wed., Nov. 18 | Family Thanksgiving BINGO, ages 4 and up with a parent or caregiver | 5 to 6:15 p.m. | Parkland Library, 6620 University Dr. |
| Sat., Nov. 21 | Afternoon Film: What's Cooking, adults and teens | 2 to 4:30 p.m. | Parkland Library |
| Mon. to Wed., Nov. 23 to 25 | Fall Break Camp | 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. | City program |
The library programs require a Parkland Library card to register, and the city lists registration at cityofparkland.org/library or (954) 757-4214.
Most of this calendar is built around a fixed window and, in many cases, a sign-up. The Hayride & Bonfire on November 13 is the one evening event at the Equestrian Center on the November calendar, and it lasts two and a half hours. The Pet Expo two days later fits into the market's four-hour morning. These are good events, and they share the same shape: show up at the posted time or miss it.
December 5 and 6 Put Both Places on One Weekend
The first weekend in December is when the city's two kinds of public life overlap. If you want both, here's how the weekend lines up:
- Saturday, December 5, 9:30 a.m. The Wedge Preserve Park opening ceremony at Hillsboro Boulevard and Nob Hill Road.
- Sunday, December 6, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Farmers' Market Holiday Craft Fair, with more than 40 vendors selling handmade and artisan crafts, candles, seasonal décor and specialty gifts. The city lists free admission and parking for all visitors.
- Friday, December 11, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Light Up the Park, listed on the city calendar for the following week.
The craft fair falls on a regular market Sunday. Along with the holiday vendors, the Parkland Farmers Market brings its usual mix of produce, herbs, flowers, baked goods, honey, sauces, dips, fresh pasta and pickles. The city's own listing calls it a chance to check a few names off your holiday list before the rush.
The order matters. Saturday is a one-time ceremony. Sunday is a recurring market with a holiday theme. After that weekend, the splash pad, the trails and the covered courts at Wedge Preserve stay open to come back to, while the Equestrian Center goes on hosting dated events. Light Up the Park is already on the city's books for December 11. Parkland's adopted budget groups it with the Halloween Festival, Snowfest and the Family Fun Carnival as one of the city's family-oriented events.
Getting Across Town With Loxahatchee Road Still Closed
One logistics note for this whole stretch of the calendar, especially for anyone driving through western Parkland. FDOT's October progress report put the Loxahatchee Road project at 85 percent complete as of October 1, 2026, TAPinto Parkland reported on October 25. The road between Parkside Drive and State Road 7/U.S. 441 stays closed through fall 2026, with traffic sent around on Parkside Drive, Holmberg Road and State Road 7/U.S. 441.
Pedestrians and cyclists are barred from Loxahatchee Road during construction, and the sidewalk between North University Drive and Parkside Drive is closed for sidewalk and handrail work. The roughly $33.5 million project started in October 2023 and covers about 6.2 miles between the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and State Road 7/U.S. 441. FDOT lists completion as "Early 2027" in its October report and "Spring 2027" on the project website. The fall closure period covers the hayride and the Pet Expo, and either completion estimate falls after the December opening weekend.
When the opening ceremony wraps up on December 5, Parkland will have a 36-acre park whose covered courts, splash pad and pond paths don't depend on anyone's calendar. A new park like Wedge Preserve also tends to come up when neighbors talk about how the surrounding streets are changing. If you're curious what this season's additions might mean for your own home's value, Linda Hoyt is glad to talk it through with you. Request Your Personalized Market Valuation, and Linda will walk you through what she's seeing in Parkland this season.
