Support for a Place to Play
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Winter 2008 N N www.miamidade.gov/parks O I Enriching Your Life T T A Through Natural, Cultural and C C Recreational Experiences I L B e U U P S S K R R A A P f E E D D A A D D - - I I i M M A A I M M A A l k In this Issue: r Support for a Place to a Play A Call to Experience the P the Heart Amazon in Miami Parks and RRecreationecreation We create outstanding recreational, natural and cultural experiences to enrich you and to enhance our community for this and future generations. Carlos Alvarez , Mayor Board of County Commissioners: Bruno A. Barreiro , Chairman; Barbara J. Jordan , Vice Chairwoman Barbara J. Jordan , District 1; Dorrin D. Rolle , District 2; Audrey M. Edmonson , District 3; Sally A. Heyman , District 4; Bruno A. Barreiro , District 5; Rebeca Sosa , District 6; Carlos A. Gimenez , District 7; Katy Sorenson , District 8; Dennis C. Moss , District 9; Sen. Javier D. Souto , District 10; Joe A. Martinez , District 11; José “Pepe” Diaz , District 12; Natacha Seijas , District 13 Harvey Ruvin , Clerk of Courts; George M. Burgess , County Manager; Robert A. Cuevas Jr. , County Attorney Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department has received accreditation from the Commission for the Accreditation of Park and Recreation Agencies (CAPRA) of the National Recreation and Park Association. Call 305-365-3128 or 305-365-6705 (TDD) to request materials in accessible format, a sign language interpreter (seven days notice required) and for information on access for persons with disabilities. Flo is certified to the SFI fiber sourcing standard, the FSC Chain of Custody standard, and contains 10% post-consumer waste for sheet fed products. Flo web manufactured at the Somerset Mill is certified to the SFI Chain of Custody standard. This book is printed with 100% renewable vegetable based inks and green press chemicals. CHAMPIONING THE CAUSE A MIAMI-DADE PARKS PUBLICATION Park lifWienter 2008 We’re spoiled in Miami, and I world. Ultimately, the greatest cities programs that introduce kids to the Publisher: suppose you could say we’re are anchored by their equally great exploration of nature and the arts, to Contents Miami-Dade County Park fortunate to have such a long list park systems, and Miami, really, the provision of sports development 1 Mission and Recreation Department of fun and wonderful things to comes in second to none, except in opportunities for nominal fees; from Editor: Doris Howe notoriously take for granted. Let’s the minds of those who take the vast free concerts and events and the 4 Support for a Place to Play Assistant Editor: see, there’s the fact that every day is Miami-Dade County Parks system for preservation of endangered lands, Susana Cortázar 8 a sunny day…how we’re never too granted. Comprised of more than 250 to the development of more green Business & Project Manager: 10 I Am Miami-Dade Parks Damarys Isler far from a beautiful ocean view… parks, it’s one of the largest networks space and connectivity in this Graphic Designers: Ruben Perez, Gabriel Reyes and all the ways beauty abounds, of parks, beaches, wildlife landscapes, increasingly growing urban 12 A Different Corporate Experience from beautiful people seemingly wetlands, and recreational gems in the environment… Miami-Dade Parks Photographer: Peter Dooling everywhere, to the bright-green entire United States. is hard at work, striving daily to 16 A Call to the Heart Public Information Officer: parakeets, whose chatter fills the air. improve the quality of life in Miami- 10 Edith Torres Dade County. But, it cannot achieve While this great parkscape of green 20 Parks in Focus 12 Contributors: these and countless other noble And how about how we’re practically and blue spaces is breathtaking, it’s Mary Abreu, Bill Ahern, Lucy Binhack, another country unto ourselves with pursuits without support. Cindy Castelblanco, Brian Cullen, the heart and soul of Miami-Dade 28 Parks at a Glance Barbara Falsey, Catherine Ferreira, our own exclusive, “Spanglish”? Parks & Recreation that’s truly vital. Angie Gomez, W. Howard Gregg, Roger L. Hammer, Katherine MacDiarmid, Where else can you find such an Building playgrounds and recreational And so, this issue of Parklife invites 30 Progress Report Maria Nardi, Donna Peyton, Pablo Tejeda, amazing patchwork of nationalities facilities for kids and adults at every you to do just that—engage yourself Sally Timberlake, Jennifer Tisthammer, Jose Toledo engaging you at every turn? end of the County and in most and support us in this champion 32 Experience the …Maybe in New York??? neighborhoods in between, the Parks effort. It’s in sharing the responsibility Miami-Dade County Park Amazon in Miami and Recreation Department organization aims to ensure that of stewardship that we’ll grow to Jack Kardys, Director Well, New York is good company to every community, regardless of more fully understand and appreciate 34 Meet a Native W. Howard Gregg, Assistant Director be in, known for its grand Central economic make-up, has a park to each other’s needs and that of our 27 for Planning and Development Park. There’s also Chicago, whose exercise and reflect in, and in which environment—resulting in greater 33 Frank Faragalli, Assistant Director 35 Calendar of Events for Operations social center—Millennium Park— to socialize and play with neighbors, progress and improved humanity. And Allison Diego, Assistant Director draws visitors in from all over the friends, family, and even pets. From that’s nothing to be taken for granted. for Administration 49 In Closing George Parrado, Assistant Director for Recreation Atoll, Matheson Hammock Park Parklife T (305) 755-7800 / F (305) 755-7857 www.miamidade.gov/parks Reproduction in whole/part of Parklife without prior written permission is strictly front/back prohibited. For questions/comments about cover spread: Parklife , write to Miami-Dade Parks, Kate 275 NW 2nd Street, 3rd Floor, Miami, FL 33128, phone (305) 755-7800, or email at [email protected]. he Miami-Dade County parks Parks Director Jack Kardys. system began in 1929, when A. D. “Doug” Barnes was As the Department moves into the Thired as director to lead the County’s future, the Parks and Open Space Road Beautification Program. With his System Master Plan –a 50-year vision Support for great foresight, he sought to acquire for a unified parks system –is the and preserve the community’s most cornerstone addressing such ills as cherished heritage and nature parks, increased population, encroaching including Matheson Hammock, development, traffic congestion, and a Place Greynolds, Haulover, Redland Fruit declining green space. Through our By Donna Peyton and Jennifer Tisthammer and Spice, Fairchild Gardens, and innovative Adopt-A-Park Program, we Homestead Bayfront Park. In its more are reaching out to the community– than 80-year history, the Park and individuals and corporations–for to Play Recreation Department has seen many ongoing support of our efforts to “Our challenge today is not that much different expansions and has grown in size to make Miami a more livable city. one of the nation’s largest, nationally than it was when we first began at the turn of the accredited park systems, with 255 One shining example of commitment century…convincing Miami-Dade citizens of the parks totaling 12,000 acres available to the Department’s many worthy importance of a strong park system to meet today’s, to residents and visitors of Miami- programs is the Parks Foundation of Dade County. Miami-Dade, which was established as well as future needs for green space and in 2004 by concerned citizens who recognized the benefit in supporting the recreation programs that enhance well-being and “Our challenge today is not that much programs and initiatives of the Miami- community life.” – Jack Kardys, Parks Director different than it was when we first Dade Park and Recreation Department. began at the turn of the century… convincing Miami-Dade citizens of the Since the Parks Foundation paved the importance of a strong park system to way, corporations, universities and meet today’s, as well as future needs non-profits have all chosen to take an for green space and recreation active leadership role as Adopt-A-Park programs that enhance well-being Program partners. Supporters include and community life,” says Miami-Dade The University of Miami, KaBOOM!, Individual community leaders community apart as a special place to Cure Paralysis and the Baptist US Paralympics, and Nike, to including Dick Anderson–a are the volunteers who invest time Hospital Foundation, and a variety name a few. “Giving back to the starting safety for the Miami and energy in projects, organizations, “Giving back to the community is one of other civic projects, including community is one of our core Dolphins' unbeaten 1972 Super local government, and causes that of our core values at The Home Depot. the Parks Foundation’s Fit to Play, values at The Home Depot. We are Bowl championship team and build and strengthen the community We are thrilled to be working with Miami- Fun for Life Program–one of thrilled to be working with Miami- subsequently elected to the and connect the people who call it our adoptable programs, which Dade Parks and helping make the Florida Legislature–have made a “home.” Dick’s community activism Dade Parks and helping make the new addresses our community’s new playground at Little River Park considerable investment in Miami- has led to serving in the Senate playground at Little River Park a reality.” growing need to keep our kids a reality,” says Juan McCausland Dade County for decades. Dick between 1978 and 1982, board physically fit and engaged in fun from The Home Depot.