Fort Lauderdale Breaks Ground on $220 Million Water District

• Construction is underway on the $220 million Water District at 501 Seabreeze Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, a major redevelopment of the peninsula surrounding the International Swimming Hall of Fame and Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center.
• The project will bring a new International Swimming Hall of Fame experience, a 10,000-gallon marine aquarium, rooftop restaurant, public promenade, event spaces and upgrades to the aquatic center.
• The redevelopment is expected to increase annual visitation from fewer than 5,000 visitors to roughly 300,000 to 400,000, with the full Water District scheduled to open in late 2028.
• The project is being delivered through a 30-year public-private partnership involving Hall of Fame Partners, the International Swimming Hall of Fame and the City of Fort Lauderdale.

What The Water District Will Bring to Fort Lauderdale

The peninsula at 501 Seabreeze Boulevard is being transformed into a new waterfront destination called the Water District. The $220 million project will bring together aquatic sports, tourism, dining, marine education and public spaces next to the Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center. The redevelopment will include a redesigned International Swimming Hall of Fame, the Fort Lauderdale Aquarium, a rooftop restaurant, event spaces and an elevated public promenade. The project also includes more than $53 million in publicly owned infrastructure improvements, including a new seawall, Ocean Rescue headquarters and public promenade improvements.

Mario Caprini, managing partner of Hall of Fame Partners, described the vision by saying, “You can come to The Water District 15 times in a year and do something different every single time.”

What The Aquatic Center Improvements Include

The existing Fort Lauderdale Aquatic Center will remain a major part of the destination. The facility is known for its 27-meter dive tower, the highest in the Western Hemisphere, and is already attracting elite swimmers and divers for major competitions. Planned improvements include a new shade structure over the grandstands, giving spectators better protection from the South Florida sun during competitions.

For families attending events, the upgrade could make a noticeable difference. Jacksonville swimmer Robin Brigman said, “Having that shade is going to be invaluable in the future for sure.”

The facility is also positioned to benefit from its connection to high-level aquatic competitions. During the Speedo Fort Lauderdale Open, athletes and younger swimmers have had the opportunity to train alongside Olympians, including Katie Ledecky and Simone Manuel.

What The New Attractions Will Offer

One of the most anticipated additions is the new Fort Lauderdale Aquarium, which will feature a 10,000-gallon tank and marine-focused educational experiences. The new International Swimming Hall of Fame will also create a larger visitor experience centered on the history of aquatic sports. The project is also planned to include rooftop dining and public spaces that take advantage of the waterfront location. The goal is to make the peninsula more than a destination for competitive swimming by giving visitors reasons to stay longer and return throughout the year. The Water District's official materials say the destination is expected to grow from fewer than 5,000 annual visitors today to more than 400,000 visitors annually once fully established.

What The Development Means for Fort Lauderdale

The Water District is part of a broader wave of investment along Fort Lauderdale's waterfront. The project sits next to the more than $3 billion Bahia Mar redevelopment, which is planned to bring new luxury residential and marina improvements to the area.

Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis has pointed to the redevelopment as an opportunity to restore an underused part of the city's waterfront. “It's finally happening,” Trantalis said, adding that the area had been neglected and that the project would create more public opportunities.

The Water District is being developed through a 30-year public-private partnership. Construction is privately funded through the project partners, while the deal includes major public infrastructure improvements. At the end of the 30-year lease, the improvements are scheduled to revert to the city for $1.

What The Construction Timeline Looks Like

The redevelopment is being delivered in multiple phases. The first phase includes construction of the Ocean Rescue headquarters, with completion scheduled for the summer of 2026. Groundbreaking for the West Building is targeted for summer 2026, while the overall Water District is expected to open in late 2028. The project represents a significant expansion of Fort Lauderdale's waterfront tourism and recreation infrastructure. By combining the Swimming Hall of Fame, aquarium, aquatic center, dining, events and public space, the Water District is designed to turn the peninsula into a year-round destination rather than a site primarily visited for swimming competitions.