Neighbors of Currie Park got their first look at an innovative conceptual plan for the waterfront expanse Tuesday, a place of glistening Intracoastal views surrounded by vacant lots where major residential towers would rise.

Jon Ward, executive director of the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency, rolled out a plan of possibilities drawn up by MIT architect Carlo Ratti, a scheme for reshaping the park with promenades, as a floating pavilion with pool and restaurants, and raised hillocks with cafes tucked underneath them that open onto the water side. The plan envisions a three-story garage, possibly an amphitheatre, and walkways with sections that slope into the Lake Worth Lagoon to let park-goers "put their toes in the water," Ward said.

The redesign would be coordinated with construction of the surrounding commercial towers on land owned by developer Jeff Greene, who brought Ratti to the city and is sharing the consulting costs.

The two-hour presentation and question-and-answer session drew a standing-room-only crowd of about 75 at the Manatee Lagoon on North Flagler Drive. Most were receptive to overhauling the park, which has been plagued with prostitutes, drug users and homeless people.

Residents wanted assurances the park would tie in to the rest of the area, in the same way that CityPlace had to be tied into downtown with trolleys and other features. They also wanted to know that whatever waterfront features were built could withstand hurricanes. Others worried the garage would block views, and urged that the park’s boat ramps, the only such ramps in the city, remain operational even during construction.

Ward provided assurances but also noted that the plan was only conceptual, presented to hear how residents respond to these ideas for reactivating "a fabulous piece of waterfront" that has gone under-used for three or four decades.

Many wanted assurances from developer Greene, who attended, that he didn’t just plan to bank his land and that he would build at the same time as the park is being reshaped. Greene has accumulated many acres of prime land in the city and has heard such skepticism before from residents and city officials, wondering when he’ll finally build all the projects on his drawing boards.

He told the audience he doesn’t make any money by paying taxes on vacant land and will move forward as soon as the city settles plans for the park.

It will be at least two years before shovels hit the dirt in the park, Ward said, noting that the project would be completed in phases.

Mayor Jeri Muoio is in Tallahassee this week with a delegation of city officials to press for state help on West Palm Beach projects. The city administrator and city attorney on Tuesday met with Florida Department of Environmental Protection officials to ask about the feasibility of the floating pavilion, which would need permits related to submerged land issues, sea grass protection and other environmental concerns.

Muoio said by phone that the talks went well. "There’s a path for us to follow," the West Palm Beach officials learned, she said. "It’s do-able."

Some at the Manatee Lagoon meeting were not overjoyed at the plan.

Shelley Newell, whose great-grandfather donated much of the land for the park in 1920, said there a deed restriction requires the land remain "a bona fide park for all of the citizens of West Palm Beach." In the family’s view, the park needs to be improved, but not with cafes, restaurants and parking garages, she said. "That’s not what we envision… We want it to remain a park."

Muoio responded that the Currie land would remain a park, as would the entire property. "It’s going to be grass and trees and park-like things," she said.

Many in attendance clearly were overjoyed at the prospect of change at Currie Park.

"I want to sit by the water and drink a beer with my friends," one man said. "This is beautiful! Let’s do it!"