Three renovated Jupiter playgrounds reopen with ribbon cuttings starting today
New shade and turf at three parks, sand loss at Jupiter Inlet Colony, and what Amendment 3 could mean for town money.
Jupiter is putting millions into its playgrounds just as Amendment 3 threatens the property tax money behind town services and infrastructure. Across the inlet, Jupiter Inlet Colony is losing its beach, and another king tide window is still to come.
Three town playgrounds, shut since early July, reopen over the next five days with artificial turf, new shade structures and play equipment designed for kids of varying abilities. Each gets a 4 p.m. ribbon cutting: Jupiter Community Center on Thursday, Oct. 8, Heights at Jupiter Park on Friday, Oct. 9, and Abacoa Community Park on Monday, Oct. 12. In July the council approved more than $375,000 in contracts for the three parks combined, which also paid for chilled water fountains, irrigation, landscaping and chain-link fencing. This is one slice of a bigger job. Several of the town's playgrounds date back more than 20 years, and in 2025 the Town Council approved a five-year, $6.8 million project covering 11 playground sites. Indian Creek Park is next in line for a splash pad, and the town plans to make it the flagship playground.
Town explains what Amendment 3 could mean for Jupiter's budget
Amendment 3 could put a dent in Jupiter's budget. The proposed constitutional amendment, on Florida's November ballot, would overhaul the property tax system. If it passes, the town says, fewer properties would pay property taxes, with school district taxes the exception, and Jupiter would collect less. That money matters. Property tax ranks among the town's primary sources of revenue and helps pay for infrastructure, programs, community events and everyday town services. The town has been studying the financial fallout and planning how it would respond if voters approve the measure.
King tides erode Jupiter Inlet Colony beach, with more peaks expected this month
Jupiter Inlet Colony's beach has dropped more than 5 feet in sand height, Town Manager Heidi Siegel said, and the water line keeps topping the dunes. Erosion has damaged a beach access staircase at one beachfront house. Siegel said the worst impacts hit shoreline the state has flagged as critically eroded for years. More flooding may follow. King tides are expected to peak Oct. 7-13 and again Oct. 24-30, the new and full moon periods, said George Rizzuto, a National Weather Service meteorologist. The first window is open now. The town has been seeking state money for a Beach Management Plan, which Siegel said would let it take "a more proactive approach to coastal erosion."
OLLI at FAU talk on happiness after 60 is this morning
- When
- Oct. 8 · 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
- Address
- 5353 Parkside Drive, Jupiter
What makes people happy after 60? Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Florida Atlantic University takes up the question in a lecture from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 8, at 5353 Parkside Drive. It covers research on emotional well-being, resilience, relationships and life satisfaction with age, along with challenges like stress and loneliness and practical strategies for lasting well-being. Register through OLLI at FAU at 561-799-8667.
HarbourFest is free this year, Oct. 16-17 at Harbourside Place
- When
- Oct. 16-17 · 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Oct. 16; noon to 10 p.m. Oct. 17
- Where
- Harbourside Place amphitheater
- Address
- East Indiantown Road and U.S. 1, Jupiter
- Price
- Free general admission; VIP options about $54 to $160
Getting into HarbourFest costs nothing this year. Organizers made general admission free to "expand the festival footprint," a spokesperson said, and added a second stage. The second-year festival fills the amphitheater at the north end of Harbourside Place, at East Indiantown Road and U.S. 1, Friday, Oct. 16, 4 to 10 p.m. On Saturday, Oct. 17, it runs noon to 10 p.m. The bill has 16 bands and artists, 10 more than last year, in a "coastal country" mix that includes singers who competed on "The Voice" and "American Idol," plus food vendors. VIP is optional. A Chef Tastings Event Friday night costs about $54, and VIP Lounge Access runs about $107 for a single day. Both days cost about $160. Organizers expect more than 7,500 people, up from nearly 5,000 at last year's debut. The festival was first expected to help revive Harbourside Place, where some shops have struggled to draw steady traffic.