Palm Bay, FL -- Two parks close tomorrow for long-planned renovation work, utility billing shifts to monthly after years on a quarterly schedule, and Saturday is packed with community events. Here is what you need to know for the week of April 27.
Parks Closures: Starting Monday
Two city parks go offline tomorrow, Monday, April 27, for renovation work funded through CDBG, the federal Community Development Block Grant program.
Driskell Park (2155 Monroe Street) closes fully through approximately June 30. The scope: new restrooms, 1,000 feet of new sidewalk, and a replacement basketball court. This is a full closure for the duration.
Liberty Park (895 Carlyle Avenue) goes phased. The north parking lot closes first, from April 27 through June 3, for sidewalk work and seal coat. The rest of the park remains accessible during that phase.
Both projects are CDBG-funded, meaning federal block grant dollars are covering the tab, not the city’s general fund. Parks and Facilities can be reached at 321-726-2777 for questions.
Utility: FPL and Pike Work in Kirby Circle Area
FPL and Pike utility crews are working the Kirby Circle area Monday through Friday this week. Expect outages and lane shifts in that corridor.
If you live or work near Kirby Circle, plan for possible brief power interruptions and allow extra time for lane shifts during the work window. No end date beyond Friday has been posted.
Utility Billing: Two Changes on the Books
Your utility bill is changing in two separate ways, and it matters to keep them straight.
Change 1: Quarterly to monthly billing. Council approved the switch from quarterly to monthly billing on March 5. The vote was unanimous. Deputy Mayor Mike Jaffe made the motion; Councilman Kenny Johnson provided the second. The final quarterly bill went out April 23. The first monthly bill arrives July 23.
Change 2: Payment processing fees. On June 22, new fees take effect under the city’s Invoice Cloud payment processing contract. Credit and debit card payments will carry a 3.5% fee. ACH and e-check payments will carry a $1.95 flat fee. If you pay by autopay from a checking or savings account, you are exempt.
These two changes are separate. The monthly billing transition was a council decision. The processing fees are a vendor passthrough under the Invoice Cloud contract. There was no council vote on the surcharge.
Developments to Watch
Three active planning clusters are in motion this week.
A CVS multi-commercial cluster at 2700 Anneleigh Circle has four planning records moving through the system. Site work is underway at Port Malabar Mixed Use Phase 2 (SWP26-00015). Paired residential site work continues at Stillwater Lakes (SWP26-00016 and SWP26-00017). None of these require council action this week, but all are worth tracking as the build-out continues.
Public Safety: Temporary Fire Station 9
Temporary Fire Station 9 remains in service at the intersection of Babcock Street and Mara Loma Boulevard, in front of Sunrise Elementary. The station is a modular trailer setup, filling a response-time gap in that corridor.
Assistant Chief John Ringleb has described it as a tremendous help to the corridor. No change this week, but it remains active and on the map.
Saturday: Two Community Events
Saturday, May 2 is a strong day to get out.
Empower and Connect Special Needs Resource Fair runs 10 AM to 2 PM at Tony Rosa Community Center (1502 Port Malabar Boulevard). It is free and walk-in. The Palm Bay Police Department’s Community Resource Unit is hosting. The fair is broader than autism awareness. Dementia caregivers and families dealing with other special needs diagnoses are included. Food trucks are on site.
Children’s Hunger Project Car Show is also Saturday, organized through the Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce. Details at greaterpalmbaychamber.com/events.
Library: May Programs
Both Palm Bay-area libraries are posting their May calendars.
Palm Bay Public Library (Port Malabar Boulevard):
Read and Meet Book Club, May 12
Junk Journaling, May 13
Bilingual Storytime, May 15
Franklin T. DeGroodt Memorial Library (Minton Road):
Cookbooks and Bites Book Club, May 16
Lagoon Loyal painting workshop, May 20
Florida Humanities program featuring a Seminole singer-songwriter, May 26
All programs are through the Brevard County Library System. Check with each branch for registration requirements.
Community Calendar
Summer camp registration is open. Palm Bay Recreation is running three programs this summer. Financial aid is available. Information at palmbayfl.gov/daycamps.
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Sources
Palm Bay City Parks and Facilities, 321-726-2777
City Council Regular Meeting, March 5, 2026 -- quarterly-to-monthly billing transition
Invoice Cloud payment processing contract, City of Palm Bay -- surcharge schedule effective June 22
IMS Planning Portal, Palm Bay Growth Management -- SWP26-00015, SWP26-00016, SWP26-00017
Tony Rosa Community Center event listing -- Empower and Connect, May 2
Greater Palm Bay Chamber of Commerce -- Children’s Hunger Project Car Show
Brevard County Library System -- Palm Bay Public Library and Franklin T. DeGroodt Memorial Library May programs
palmbayfl.gov/daycamps -- Summer Camp Registration
