When the Town of Southwest Ranches bought the land at Dykes and Griffin Roads in 2004, what did it plan to build there? A June 2004 Sun Sentinel report said the plan for the 20-acre Southwest Meadows Sanctuary included waterways, an amphitheater and a picnic pavilion, as part of a larger effort to preserve parks and trails.
The pavilion is the first of those to be built, 22 years later. At the October 8 Town Council meeting, the Town administrator said the building was effectively complete, its meters were installed and the water was running, and it would open for full public use the following Monday. Citizen Portal's write-up of that meeting reported that the council also approved temporary funding of about $3,500 a month for janitorial service and daily opening and closing, since those costs weren't fully covered in the new budget.
Before the pavilion, the park hosted events without permanent facilities. It now has restrooms, lighting, paved access and staff to open and close it each day, and its calendar already covers every weekend through December plus a four-day fair in January.
From the 2004 plan to an October opening
The schedule slipped more than once, and the Town's own documents record each delay.
| When | What the Town said |
|---|---|
| June 2004 | 20 acres bought at Dykes and Griffin Roads, with a picnic pavilion among the planned features |
| March 2024 | Design underway, construction projected for spring through winter 2024 |
| November 2025 | Construction projected for spring through winter 2025 |
| September 2026 | Hoped to open in July, delayed, now expected in late September |
| October 8, 2026 | Building effectively complete, opening for public use the following Monday |
The September Town newsletter described the pavilion as a "beautiful new gathering space" that it expected to become "a favorite destination for families, neighbors, and visitors alike." The October newsletter's table of contents lists the grand opening of the Southwest Meadows Sanctuary Pavilion.
What the building had to fit around
According to the March 26, 2026 council agenda, the Town contracted East Coast Builders and Developers for $2,182,000 to build the project from CPZ Architects' plans. The scope included a restroom pavilion with a storage room and an enlarged roof overhang to shade picnic tables, an asphalt access road, ADA parking, a stabilized-grass multi-function area, landscaping, site lighting, drainage improvements and perimeter fencing. The money came from $1,183,374 in American Rescue Plan Act funds, a $200,000 Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant and $798,626 from the Town's general fund.
The agenda lists six change orders that added a net $51,070. Five of them show how the town's rural rules and local permitting shaped the building:
- Lighting under the Dark Skies rule. The Town asked for one more parking-lot light pole for coverage and security, and the agenda notes it meets the Town's Dark Skies Ordinance.
- A slab to match Rolling Oaks Barn. A $14,350 stamped, colored concrete slab outside the pavilion was chosen to match the look of the Rolling Oaks Barn, and the Aster Knight Parks Foundation reimbursed the Town for it.
- A lift station in place of a septic system. The plans called for a septic tank and drain field for the restrooms. Permitting agencies required a grinder lift station and a sanitary sewer connection instead, plus a separate water service to meet City of Sunrise requirements.
- A longer power run. The FPL transformer service was moved from Dykes Road to SW 163rd Avenue, which added much more wiring. Because FPL won't do that work for non-residential facilities, it became a $78,000 change order.
- Fencing dropped along the south line. The Town removed about 2,200 linear feet of planned PVC fence. Part of it ran along the south property line, where the planned Southwest Meadows Canal and Wetland Improvement project will be built, so new fencing there would have been disturbed.
The fencing change shows the park isn't finished. The 2004 plan included waterways, and a canal and wetland project is now planned right along the park's southern edge. The agenda describes it as future construction and gives no start date.
The farmer's market runs every weekend
The park's most regular use is the Southwest Ranches Community Farmer's Market. The Town calendar lists it at Southwest Meadows Sanctuary Park every Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with dates scheduled through December 26 and 27. That includes Halloween: the market is open Saturday, October 31, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., before the trick-or-treating starts.
The organizer, The Cioli Group, describes the market as running on Saturdays all year and on Sundays seasonally from September through May. If you're working from an older list, note that the Sun Sentinel's 2025 farmer's market roundup gave Sunday hours of 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The current Town listing says Sundays end at 3.
The Town's event page lists more than produce. A sample of what it lists:
- About 1,000 square feet of fruit and vegetables, including organic and exotic produce described as non-GMO and unwaxed
- Local farm-fresh eggs and locally sourced, infused Southwest Ranches honey
- Sugar-cane juice, fresh juices, lemonade and cut fruit
- Wood-fired sourdough pizza made to order
- Puerto Rican mofongo, ceviche, empanadas and arepas
- Bonsai trees, succulents, indoor plants and fresh-cut flowers
- Exotic teas, coffees and spices, along with bread, cakes and cookies
- Pet food and pet products, aromatherapy soaps and candles
- Food trucks serving Mexican food, gourmet hot dogs, Argentinean grill, vegan dishes and coffee
The page says vendors, food trucks and activities change from week to week and directs shoppers to the organizer's Instagram, @thecioligroup, for updates. Until now, a weekend afternoon at the market meant no restrooms or shade on site. The new pavilion has both.
January brings the Country Fair, which raises money for the parks
The park's biggest event is in mid-January. The October Town newsletter announces the 4th annual Southwest Ranches Country Fair, presented by Southwest Ranches Country Fair & Carnival, a nonprofit founded in 2009 by Aster Knight. The four-day fair raises money to improve the town's seven public parks. Aster Knight's name is also on the parks foundation that reimbursed the Town for the pavilion's stamped slab.
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Thursday, January 14 | 5 to 10 p.m. |
| Friday, January 15 | 5 to 10:30 p.m. |
| Saturday, January 16 | 1 to 10:30 p.m. |
| Sunday, January 17 | Noon to 6 p.m. |
The fair is at Southwest Meadows Sanctuary Park, 16290 Griffin Road, and the newsletter promises games, contests and attractions for all ages. The Pumpkin Patch Festival used the same park this month, from October 16 through 18.
Two other town projects on the list
The October newsletter also announces this year's holiday decorating contest. The three most festively decorated homes in Southwest Ranches will win, and entries go to [email protected]. The newsletter doesn't give dates, so check with Town Hall before you start on the lights.
The second project is a trail. In his newsletter column, Council Member David Kuczenski writes that the Town is exploring plans to reopen the historic, overgrown horse trail that starts where Appaloosa Trail meets Old Sheridan Street and runs along Sheridan Street toward Flamingo Road. Town crews would do the initial heavy clearing, and residents would be asked to volunteer for the rest of the restoration, with dates still to be announced. If you ride, keep an eye out for the call for volunteers this fall.
If you're curious what a pavilion, a lift station and a Dark Skies light pole mean for the land around Southwest Meadows, Alex Fernandez knows these Griffin Road parcels and the rural standards that shape them. Schedule a Private Consultation, or look for us at the market some Saturday.
