Haulover Park to Receive Wizo Forest in Support of Million Trees Miami Campaign
On Sunday, January 27, 2013 the Women's International Zionist Organization (WIZO) South Florida Chapter and its members, in partnership with BioPlanet USA and the Miami-Dade Community Image Advisory Board, chaired by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Dennis C. Moss (District 9) will plant over 150 native coastal trees and shrubs at Haulover Park and Marina (10800 Collins Avenue, Miami) in support of the County's Million Trees Miami Campaign. Planting will begin at 9:00 am. Commissioner Moss will officiate at the ceremony at 11:00 a.m. speaking about the Million Trees Miami initiative and the value of investing in community aesthetics. This is a family-friendly event. Free parking will be available at the lot west of Collins and 108 Street, with safe access to the park planting site through the tunnels under Collins Avenue. Food trucks and kosher catering will be available for purchase.
"Thanks to these wonderful park partnerships, Miami-Dade County parks, such as Haulover Park, can continue to benefit from projects that will help rejuvenate and beautify its natural habitats," said Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department Director Jack Kardys. "In this way, residents and visitors will have more peaceful green spaces to enjoy for many years to come."
"Miami-Dade is a significant tourist destination in large part because of its beautiful beaches and lush vegetation," said Moss. "Programs like the Million Trees Miami campaign support that and expand on the idea that planting trees is a critical part of creating livable places. A healthy urban tree canopy is linked to the long-term physical and economic health of a community. Organizations like WIZO understand that the small act of planting a tree increases in value over the life of that tree - in the shade that it will provide in our parks, the air that it will clean, and the long-term aesthetics of the urban forest. I want to thank WIZO for their foresight and commitment to our community."
For additional information contact Christina Casado at (786) 295-2785.
The project, called the "WIZO Tree of Life Forest" is part of the Million Trees Miami initiative. For the second consecutive year, WIZO members have raised funds as part of their annual drive allocating 50% of the tree donations to benefit the WIZO Nir Haemek School Greenhouse in Israel and the other 50% to support the planting and upkeep of the Wizo Forest in Miami.
WIZO is a worldwide volunteer organization supporting and operating over 800 social welfare projects aiming to improve the lives of women, children and the elderly living in Israel. Having set roots in Miami with a proud history of philanthropy and community service, prominent leaders of the Jewish community, the General Consul of Israel in Miami, and distinguished guests are expected to attend the event. Trees are highly respected and occupy a special place in Jewish thought, which closely relates to man's relationship with the natural environment, our life-support system.
WIZO has committed to this tree planting as part of their celebration of Tu B'shevat (a Jewish holiday celebrating the New Year of the Trees) and hope to continue their support of Million Trees Miami on an annual basis as a way to give back to the community, and what better way than leaving behind the lasting legacy of the WIZO Forest.
About the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces Department:
Nationally accredited, a three-time winner of the NRPA National Gold Medal Award and winner of the 2009 Florida Governor's Sterling Award for excellence in management and operations, Miami-Dade County Parks is the third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 260 parks and 12,848 acres of land. It is one of the most unique park and recreation systems in the world. Made up of more than just playgrounds and athletic fields, it also comprises out-of-school, sports-development, and summer-camp programs; programs for seniors and people with disabilities; educational nature centers and nature preserves; environmental restoration efforts; arts and culture programs and events; the renowned Zoo Miami and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Ericsson Open; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more. For information about Miami-Dade County Parks call 3-1-1, or visit www.miamidade.gov/parks/.
Miami-Dade County Parks is supported by The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade a non-profit 501(c)3 organization supporting the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department's efforts to further develop Miami-Dade County's world-class parks system for residents and visitors. Its mission is to create a healthier, more livable and sustainable Miami community by ensuring the implementation of the Parks Open Space Master Plan and the development of year-round park and recreation programs for local children, adults and people with disabilities. For more information on the Parks Foundation, please visit www.parksfoundationofmiami-dade.com.
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