For Immediate Release:
 August 07, 2009

Media Contact:
Olga Vega
OlgaV@miamidade.gov



Vice-Chairman Diaz celebrates new neighborhood park in District 12


(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- A vacant lot that was once an eyesore is now the beautiful new Tamiami Trail Park, located at 12760 SW 6 Street in Miami. Vice-Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz joined Miami-Dade Parks Director Jack Kardys and City of Sweetwater Mayor Manuel M. Maroño for the dedication of the new park on August 4, 2009. Residents who attended the opening were treated to refreshments, while children enjoyed clowns and face painting.

Prior to the park’s construction, the site was a neglected lot where illegal dumping took place, and was also the site where people would take their hurricane debris removal.  Once Miami-Dade Parks took over the lot, the project, built in phases, consisted of clearing the site of debris and preparing the land, installing drainage, fencing, building a perimeter sidewalk, installing site furniture, and adding dog-friendly bag dispensers and trash bins.  Landscaping was added providing a mix of shade trees, flowering trees, shrubs and groundcover, and a butterfly garden located near the playground.

The playground is a new, state-of-the-art Weevos™! Gyroscopic playground manufactured by Landscape Structures and which features rounded arches and unconventional play equipment where play is possible in every direction and dimension.  Developed for children ages 2 to 12, a child will be lead to explore the unconventional components of the playground, stimulating kids’ imaginations on how to play.  The playground was built on rubberized and sand surfaces providing access to children with disabilities, and also features a shade structure that covers the entire area.

“A big kudos goes to Director Kardys, who worked with me to find this diamond in the rough,” said Commissioner Diaz. “Tamiami Trail Park is a welcome addition to my district that I’m sure families will treasure for years to come.”

The project was funded by the Quality Neighborhoods Improvement Program (QNIP) and Impact Fees.

Photo Caption 1: (L-R) Sweetwater Mayor Manuel M. Maroño, Miami-Dade County Vice-Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz, and Miami-Dade Parks Director Jack Kardys participate in the ribbon-cutting of the new Tamiami Trail Park on August 4, 2009.

Photo Caption 1: (L-R) Sweetwater Mayor Manuel M. Maroño, Miami-Dade County Vice-Chairman Jose “Pepe” Diaz, and Miami-Dade Parks Director Jack Kardys participate in the ribbon-cutting of the new Tamiami Trail Park on August 4, 2009.

Photo Caption 2: Local children enjoy the new playground at Tamiami Trail Park, which opened to the public on August 4, 2009.

Photo Caption 2: Local children enjoy the new playground at Tamiami Trail Park, which opened to the public on August 4, 2009.
 

# # #

 

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONER JOSE PEPE DIAZ DISTRICT 12
Stephen P. Clark Center
111 NW 1st Street, Suite 320 Miami, Florida 33128
(305) 375-4343