Newsletter of the Miami-Dade Parks Division of Planning & Development
Project of the Quarter
Outdoor Electrical Safety Program
Beginning in 2002, the Park and Recreation Department initiated the Outdoor Electrical Safety program to identify and repair electrical devices in parks outside of park buildings. The program initially identified 138 County parks having outdoor electrical devices that warranted further evaluation, with priority for evaluation being those park areas subject to periodic flooding. Flooding increases the hazard of electrocution because many outdoor electrical installations are underground.
The Department has now completed two of the three phases of the Electrical Safety Program. Funding for the third and final phase has been requested for fiscal year 2007.
Surveys and Reports
Outdoor lighting represents the largest component of electrical installations in our developed parks. Typically, these electrical installations include field lighting, walkway lighting, parking lot lighting, and security lighting mounted on poles around buildings. In addition, each developed park has other, different types of facilities that have outdoor electrical installations. These were evaluated as a part of the Electrical Safety Program, as well. These facilities include recreation buildings, field houses, pump houses, storage buildings and swimming pools.
To-date, approximately six-thousand (6,000) electrical devices have been examined as a part of the Electrical Safety Surveys. The majority of discovered hazards were not apparent to the naked eye but consisted of hidden short circuits or ungrounded devices detected through electronic measuring.
Phase I and Phase 2 of the Electrical Safety Surveys evaluated 138 developed parks. Parks were categorized into three distinct priority levels based largely on their flooding potential, assuming that flooding would increase the hazard associated with underground or under-grounded devices. Twenty-six (26) parks that experience severe flooding were categorized as Priority 1; forty-three (43) parks that experience moderate flooding were categorized as Priority 2; and sixty-nine (69) parks that experience little or no flooding were categorized as Priority 3.
During the survey process, the consultant was required to identify two types of safety conditions: those that posed an immediate threat to the public and staff, and those that would deteriorate into a future hazard if not repaired over time. A supplementary report (Interim Emergency Report) listing imminent safety concerns was sent to the Parks Facility Maintenance staff for immediate repairs. Normal deteriorating items were prioritized as a part of the report and submitted for future repairs.
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Repairs
The Facility Maintenance staff was assigned to immediately address the imminent safety emergencies identified by the supplementary Interim Emergency Report. A small sample of Interim Emergency Report repairs completed by the Facility Maintenance staff since 2002 include:
- Trail Glades Range
Replaced electrical panels; addressed violations in buildings; re-bonded over 20 light poles
- Tamiami Park
Repair bonding system for over 100 light poles; repair and test grounding system
- All 19 County Swimming Pools
Repair, test and re-certify Bonding Grid System for all metal items adjacent to pool deck
- A.D. Barnes Park
Repair bonding system for over 80 light poles; installed over 70 new ground rods
- Amelia Earhart Park
Repair bonding system for 30 light poles; removal of unsafe poles; retest grounding system
- Black Point Park and Marina
Repair bonding system for over 28 light poles; re-bond electrical panels
- Gwen Cherry Park
Repair bonding system for over 40 light poles; install 40 new ground rods
- Norman and Jean Reach Park
Repair bonding system for over 20 light poles; replace outdoor light fixtures
- Pelican Harbor Park and Marina
Repair bonding system for 20 pier light poles; remove damaged light fixtures and equipment
- Soar Park
Bonding system for more than 20 light poles
Current, ongoing repairs include:
Funding
The total funding so far for the Outdoor Electrical Safety Program is $3.86 million, as follows: in fiscal year 2002, $1.125 million was allocated from the Liability Trust Fund; in fiscal year 2005, $1.43 million was allocated from the Capital Outlay Reserve Fund; and in fiscal year 2006, another $1.3 million was from the Capital Outlay Reserve Fund. For fiscal year 2007, another $1 million is being requested to complete the safety program.
Project Summary:
The pictures below show two electricians (Mr. Eduardo Garcia and Mr. Jorge Grant) who are completing interim report safety repairs and other large electrical emergency projects.
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| Mr. Eduardo Garcia is installing the electrical service rack for the new scoreboard at Tropical Park. |
Mr. Jorge Grant is repairing an electrical panel as part of the Tropical Park Interim Report electrical repairs. |
Project Team
Survey and Engineering Consultants
Gartek Engineering-Consulting Ltd.
Johnson, Avedano, Lopez, Rodriguez and Walewski Engineering Group, Inc.
Louis J. Aguirre & Associates, P.A.
Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department
Design and Development Division
Don Frederick, Chief of Architecture and Engineering
Gaisha Alvarez, Electrical Engineer
Construction and Maintenance Division
Sandy Stephens, Chief of Construction and Maintenance
Jay Forni, Construction Manager 3
Joe Dopico, Construction and Renovation Supervisor 1
Watch for the Next Project of the Quarter
Goulds Recreation Center
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Assistant Director’s Message
April 2006
The Miami-Dade County Building Department has, for some time, required that 40 year-old buildings be inspected and certified by licensed engineers so that they meet current code standards, primarily for structural and electrical systems. As a result of this program, many of the older buildings in our parks have been upgraded and improved to today’s standards.
There is no such regulatory requirement for inspecting and certifying park improvements outside of “buildings.” Realizing the important benefits of the Building Department’s 40-year certification program in improving the longevity and safety of our buildings, the Park and Recreation Department initiated its own inspection and repair program for outdoor facilities. The “Outdoor Electrical Safety Program” has been ongoing since 2002. This issue of “Groundbreaking News” highlights this program as the Project of the Quarter. Kudos to the A&E Division’s Gaisha Alvarez and the Facility Maintenance Division’s Joe Dopico for making this a successful program!
Now, a new program has been initiated this year for the inspection and certification of outdoor structural elements in our park. Examples of such elements are shelters, bridges, tunnels, piers, docks, and platforms. Again, as with the Outdoor Electrical Safety Program, professional engineers will systematically survey parks, reports will be prepared and, when necessary, repairs made. All this to insure that our parks provide safe, enjoyable, and outstanding recreational, natural and cultural experiences!
W. Howard Gregg
Assistant Director for Planning and Development
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Moving Forward
We’re making progress in our efforts to enhance your park experience. The following Capital Improvement projects were recently completed.
July 2005
West Perrine Park – Recreation/Parking/Field Upgrades
Country Lake Park – Restroom Storage, Parking Lot Lights
August 2005
Vizcaya – Administrative Area Stabilize/Restore Garage/Blacksmith Shop
Three Lakes Park – Restroom
West Kendall District Park – Black Creek Canal Bridge
Soar Park – Recreation Center Renovation
Country Village Park – Shade Structure
Country Village Park – Medium Alternative Recreation Center
September 2005
Water Oaks Park – Soccer Field Fencing
Camp Matecumbe Bldg #4 (Mess Hall) – 40 Year Recertification
Crandon Park – Seawall Repairs
Continental Park – After-School Programs Trailer
October 2005
Homestead Air Reserve Park – Water and Electrical Service
Crandon Park Bldg. Number 31 (Concession by Amusement) – 40 Year
November 2005
Cherry Grove Park – Park Furniture
Ojus Park – Parking Lot, Walkways, Basketball Court Lights
Doral Meadow Park – Parking Lot Lighting, Field Center
December 2005
Ives Estates Park – Fill
Country Village Park – Landscaping for Recreation Center Building & Parking
Haulover Park – Dune Restoration Project/Crossovers
Spanish Lake Park – Walkway
North Trail Park – New Medium Recreation Building
Three Lakes Park – Lighted Soccer Field #3 – by Lennar
January 2006
Trail Glades Range – New Electrical Service & Walkway Lighting
Trail Glades Range – Lighting Upgrade for Two (2) Parking Lots
Trail Glades Range – Structure (J) Range Office – 40 Year Recertification
Arvida Park – Planting Plan for Two Natural Areas
Highland Oaks Park – CED Restoration Project
February 2006
Matheson Hammock Park – Marina Pier G & H Electrical Upgrade
Bonanza Ranch Estates Park – Basketball Court
Snapper Creek Park – Landscaping
Miami-Dade County Auditorium – Handholds at Mezzanine Seats
March 2006
Pelican Harbor Marina – Repair Boat Ramp Docks #2, #3, #4
Three Lakes Park – Soccer Field – Grading
Snapper Creek Park – Playground
May 2006
Snapper Creek Park – Shade Structure
Westwind Lakes Park – Playground – Boundless
Serena Lakes Park – Access Control Replacement
Highland Oaks Park – Recreation Center
Kendall Indian Hammocks Park – Kendall Shops Office Bldg. No. 11 – 40-year re-certification
June 2006
A.D. “Doug” Barnes Park – Fencing, Clearing, Survey North Parcel
Crandon Park – Tennis Center Stadium Temporary Seating
Country Lake Park – Parking Lot Resealing and Striping
Hammocks Community Park – Optimist Storage Bldg. – CBO#0316
Colonial Drive Park – Playground Replacement – C1
Briar Bay Park – Tree Planting
Colonial Drive Park – Playground Replacement – C1
Gwen Cherry Park – Aquatic Center Parking Lot Relocation
North Trail Park – Landscaping grading and clean-up
Tropical Park – Electrical Serv. Upgrade Shelters #1, #10, #11, #12
July 2006
Gwen Cherry Park – Recreation Center Renovation – Restrooms
Southern Estates Park – Baseball Field Relocation
West Kendale Lakes Park – Site Improvements
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