Miami-Dade County Parks' New Snake Creek Trail Extension Expands Mobility Options and Recreational Amenities

On October 16, 2013, the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department (MDPROS) and Miami-Dade County Commissioners Sally A. Heyman (District 4) and Barbara J. Jordan (District 1) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open the new 3.4-mile Snake Creek Trail extension in northeast Miami-Dade County.  The new 10-foot-wide paved trail, complete with a linear park, two mini-parks, and way-finding and regulatory signage, is exclusively open to non-motorized use (such as walkers, in-line-skaters, cyclists), with the exception of Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) approved motorized devices. Each mini-park contains adult fitness stations, play climbers for tiny tots (ages 2-5), bicycle racks, trash receptacles, a rain shelter, and benches. Situated along the south side of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) right-of-way of the Snake Creek Canal, between NE Miami Gardens Drive and the Florida Turnpike, the new trail connects to an existing 2-mile trail link between NE Miami Gardens Drive (NE 185 Street) and West Dixie Highway (NE 22) Avenue). Together, the two trail segments create a 5.4 mile contiguous greenway corridor through the residential areas of the City of North Miami Beach, unincorporated Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami Gardens.

Pictured above (L-R) at the ribbon-cutting:  MDPROS Director Jack Kardys; City of North Miami Beach Councilman Anthony F. DeFillipo; City of North Miami Beach Councilwoman Phyllis S. Smith; MDPROS North Zone Manager Mitch Burroughs (back) Miami-Dade Commissioners Sally A. Heyman (District 4) and Barbara J. Jordan (District 1); City of Miami Gardens Councilwoman Lillie Q. Odom; and Willy Fernandez, President LINK Construction Group.

The new mini-parks are located at NW 7 Avenue/NW 202 Street and NW 12 Avenue/NW 202 Terrace. The improvements cost $3,621,000 and were funded by the Building Better Communities Bond Program and the Florida Department of Transportation Surface Transportation Program.