Miami-Dade County - Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces

For Immediate Release:
July 16, 2010

Media Contact:
Edith Torres

305-755-7862

Miami-Dade Parks and Commissioner Carlos Gimenez to break ground for the development of a new neighborhood park, July 21, at 10 a.m.

(Miami-Dade County, FL) -- Miami-Dade Parks and Commissioner Carlos Gimenez will break ground on July 21 at 10 a.m. for the development of Sunkist Park, a new neighborhood park to be built in a naturalistic setting that respects the park's origins as a Pine Rockland. Sunkist Park is located at 8401 SW 64 Street in Miami.

The General Plan, developed by a team led by Diana Cornely of Miami-Dade Parks' Planning and Research Division and landscape architect Leticia Fernandez-Beraud, working with biologists from Miami-Dade Parks' Natural Areas Management and Fairchild Tropical Botanic Gardens, featured improvements that include a concrete walkway built in the form of an ellipse, and a soft path built of crushed materials which will meander through a naturalistic setting featuring pines and some understory plantings typical of a Pine Rockland. Amenities include an ADA-accessible playground (featuring boulder-type climbers, spring toys and swings); interpretative signage; perimeter fence; site furniture; and xeriphytic landscaping.

"The improvements to this neighborhood park will be of great benefit to all residents in the area," said Carlos Gimenez, Miami-Dade County Commissioner for District Seven.

Total project cost is expected to be $350,000 funded by the Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Program (SNP) and Quality Neighborhoods Improvement Program (QNIP).

"We're excited to begin work on this beautiful new passive park. We here at Miami-Dade Parks strive to not only provide beautiful parks as escapes for people to recreate and enjoy, but we also strive to protect and manage the native landscapes in South Florida providing a healthier, more sustainable Miami-Dade County, and Sunkist Park is a perfect example of this," said Jack Kardys, Director of Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department.

About Miami-Dade Park and Recreation:
The third largest county park system in the United States, consisting of 263 parks and more than 12,848 acres of land, Miami-Dade Parks 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 after-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 Miami MetroZoo and the Deering Estate at Cutler; the Crandon Tennis Center, home of the Sony Ericsson Open-the USTA's fifth largest tennis tournament; golf courses; beaches; marinas; campgrounds; pools; and more.

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