1814 Brickell Park Ready to Build

Rendering-full color PDF

Residents are getting anxious to see development begin on the new park space secured by Commissioner Sarnoff for neighbors at 1814 Brickell Avenue. "Design-Build" plans have been finalized, which BHA reps reviewed and gave a thumbs-up.

In the final design, a wall was added for neighbor privacy in the back and the water feature was eliminated in the interest of conservation. Construction is expected to take place in the summer with an October-November opening anticipated.

Enea Garden Design Inc., designers of the northeast corner entry to Simpson Park, have completed the design work and budget for the park which has reached over $800,000. The Commissioner is tapping unspent "quality of life" funds remaining in District 2 for this project. He has worked with Enea to design a formal park where business people—including women wearing heels—can go for a peaceful retreat anytime to and from work or home. The design calls for a reading area, picnic area, playground and open lawn space, as well as hardscapes for easy traversing.
The aerial rendering (opposite) is available in full color on the BHA website (brickellhomeowners.com), including identification of all the shrubs, trees and plantings to be used.

From BHA News, Winter 2010

Brickell neighborhood to get a park

A lot on the west side of Brickell at 1814 will be the site of a new public park serving the needs of the growing residential community in the area, including many families with children. This new parcel right in the middle of the residential Brickell corridor was an unexpected triumph when Commissioner Marc Sarnoff’s staff shared the news with BHA Directors in mid-January. It was probably the single most welcome news in the past two decades, right up there with the announcement of the first Publix to be opened in the area.

“This park is great news for the residents of Brickell and the many families and children we have living here now,” BHA President Ernesto Cuesta said. “We have been vocal about needing a park within safe walking distance for a long time, and are thrilled that it is really going to happen.”

The parcel is just under an acre at .81 acres, or approximately 35,500 square feet. It was purchased with a $337,775 grant from the Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond Program and matching funds from City non-general fund monies for just under $2.6 million total. Impact fees, collected from developers with the purpose to offset infrastructure costs of new projects in the area, were used for the purchase. Brickell has borne the brunt of the development surge but has not gotten its fair share of impact fees, Commissioner Sarnoff told the BHA Board last April. Long-time developer and BHA Associate member Tibor Hollo helped the purchase with a $200,000 contribution.

Kids, pets top priorities

Neighbors are envisioning a playground area for children and an area for dogs in the park. Commissioner Sarnoff has scheduled a joint meeting with the Boards of BHA and Brickell Area Association in the latter half of March to discuss design plans.

The question of funding for the creation of the park has not been ignored. The Commissioner has secured $240,000 in funds from a number of sources including $33,000 in fines collected from numerous tree violations documented at 2110 Brickell Avenue and held in the City of Miami Tree Trust Fund, an additional $172,000 in Safe Neighborhood Park Funds and $35,000 from developers. The Commissioner said he hopes businesses, residents and others in the area will match that amount for the park build out.

BHA has long been advocating for more parks to better accommodate the high density of residents living in the Brickell area. Many residents include families and pets who have a desire to enjoy the great outdoors outside their doors.

Creative approaches

Commissioner Sarnoff has been a proponent of more green space for Brickell residents and started work on the issue soon after taking office. The Commissioner had a creative plan with Mr. Hollo who was willing to lend a piece of waterfront land on Brickell Bay Drive for temporary park space until development conditions turned more economically favorable. The deal ultimately could not get worked through legal channels. The Commissioner asked the BHA Board of Directors to “not give up hope” last year, pledging to continue to make Brickell green space a priority.

BHA salutes Commissioner Sarnoff for his diligence on behalf of neighbors, and his ability to make this happen, especially in this tight economic environment.

Follow this website for news of park development.

More about green space

In other ongoing parks and green space news, the small waterfront green space at the end of 25th Road has been resodded, thanks to Brickell Biscayne and its marina developer that finished their marina restoration project there. Benches have been put in place in the patch of green, but unfortunately, the mahogany tree BHA News reported was to be relocated there could not be replanted.

The City of Miami still needs to address the crumbling seawall issue, the state of its own grounds on the half of the lot not restored by the developer, and better lighting at night to prevent bad elements from making the space their home or recreation area (a problem which has been reported by neighbors on 25th Road). And finally, canine courtesy is desperately needed among those who take their dogs to the area.