Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to kick off Earth Day at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park

Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces is hosting an Earth Day celebration on, Saturday, April 22, 2023, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a press conference and a variety of environmental education and conservation activities that include a volunteer cleanup and invasive species removal, orchid and tree giveaways, an Eco Village, and more at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park. During the event, the Department of Transportation and Public Works will unveil one of their new Proterra electric buses adorned with the work of Miami-Dade County artist-in-residence Xavier Cortada.

At 11 a.m., Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and Miami-Dade County Parks Director Maria I. Nardi, other county officials, USDA-ARS (Agricultural Research Service) ecologist Dr. Allen Dray, Symeria Hudson, President and CEO of United Way Miami, the event’s title sponsor and TERRA Environmental Research Institute Principal Jose Sirven, will kick off Earth Day with a press conference.  They will be joined by high school students, teachers, and staff from Miami-Dade magnet high school TERRA Environmental Research Institute, which partners closely with Miami-Dade Parks and whose students work side-by-side with parks teams on invasive plant research and volunteer projects year-round at Kendall Indian Hammocks, and military veteran organization The Mission Continues, among others.

A highlight of the event will be the release of the USDA’s bio control agent for the invasive air potato vine - “Lilioceris egena beetles,” a USDA research program in which Miami-Dade Parks is collaborating, and a pivotal development in the county’s efforts to combat the invasive vine. The beetles exclusively feed and lay eggs on air potato bulbil, inhibiting this invasive plant’s ability to sprout. Miami-Dade County has tested and implemented this USDA-led project to reduce the abundance of invasisve plants in 12 park and EEL preserves, allowing native plants the opportunity to reestablish. Most air potato beetle research in Miami-Dade County has taken place at Kendall Indian Hammocks. The USDA monitors research plots and TERRA students have joined Miami-Dade Parks staff in conducting air potato beetle research projects in the park’s hammock. Watch our video about the air potato-eating beetle here.

The event will also showcase Miami-Dade Parks’ new Mean Green Mower and Toro Z Master mower, part of Miami-Dade-County Park’s initiative to replace most of its mower inventory with eco-friendly electric mowers over the next four years.

At 12 p.m., community volunteers representing title sponsor United Way Miami, The Mission Continues, and others, will gather for the cleanup at the park’s west trail entrance to the nature preserve, where they will be shown how to effectively remove invasive air potato vines and other harmful plants. The clean-up project to improve the health of the rare Miami-Dade County tropical hardwood hammock forest at Kendall Indian Hammocks Park is being supported by One Tree Planted.

Native trees, orchids, and other Earth Day giveaways will be distributed to guests, while supplies last. Beverage sponsor Bang Energy will be passing out complimentary energy drink and hydration beverages in recyclable containers. Throughout the day, guests will also have an opportunity to participate in disc golf and soccer clinics, purchase food and beverages from food truck vendors, and visit the Eco Village, where they can browse nature-based exhibits.  Coca Cola volunteers will paint rain barrels and donate the finished barrels to the Parks Department. The event will conclude at 3 p.m.