Reprinted from BHA News, Spring 1999

Simpson Park Undergoing Renovation and Renaissance

Lunch in the park. A simple idea. An open invitation. From Simpson Park Manager Patricia Quintana, that is.

"Midday is when people feel fatigued," she said. "To all those people who work on Brickell, live on Brickell, I say, 'bring your lunch and sit in the park and enjoy it here. Listen to the birds and the winds and look at the hammock.'"

Ms. Quintana guarantees you'll go back to work unstressed.

Capital Improvements

Even if you're not the type to escape to the park for a mid-afternoon break, you may nevertheless want to get over to Simpson Park to witness the renovations there since Ms. Quintana took over as manager nearly four years ago. During her tenure, she has garnered $468,000 for capital improvements from grants, corporate and private contributions.

The BHA has been a chief supporter of Simpson Park programs and improvements whenever endorsement from the neighborhood group was helpful for leveraging funds.

Two blocks west of Brickell off South Miami Avenue at 55 SW 17th Road, the current transformation underway at the eight-and-a-half-acre historic park includes creation of a covered screen enclosure that wraps around the building. Roofing, decking and screening are expected to be completed by the beginning of July, Ms. Quintana reports.

Other plans include restoration of the pond and creation of an ecosystem for it by the students of Southside Elementary School. The pond was originally built in 1920 and sprang a leak in the 1960s, which the City of Miami never repaired. The restored pond and ecosystem hold the promise of providing a field lab for the Southside students.

On the Wish List

Ms. Quintana also has a vision of visitors listening to the "trickling, soothing sounds" of a waterfall, thus far an unfunded item in the roster of improvements. The waterfall would extend from the banyans, coming down to a basin so it looks like it comes from under the building. Plans include three streams with islands of trees, native bromeliads and ferns.

In planning for the addition of a waterfall, Ms. Quintana must take into consideration the root systems of the existing vegetation and native plants. The heavy foliage and hammock of the park make bringing in heavy equipment to do the construction prohibitive, which would add to the labor costs of construction. Ms. Quintana is looking for a $20,000 donation to make the waterfall a reality.

The 1940s building at the park is also on Ms. Quintana's hit list of needed upgrades. She's had the windows replaced with sliding glass doors so that people can better see the hammock all around them. She wants to remove the acoustic ceiling and take the structure back to its original tongue and groove vaulted ceiling.

"It needs to be inviting and express the history of the building," she said. "People need to know it like it was, not like it is now."

Ms. Quintana can be reached at (305) 856-6801 and welcomes calls of suggestion or support.

Reprinted from BHA News, Spring 1998
Simpson Park Manager Recognized for Excellence

Simpson Park keeps getting better thanks to the work of its Manager, Pat Quintana, who has made great strides in improving the park since she took the helm less than three years ago.

Vagrants, gang members, drugs and the ravages of Hurricane Andrew had all but condemned the native hammock before she took over. But now the park is safer and cleaner than it had been for years. Native vegetation has been restored, a fence has been added, and activity abounds with school groups, garden clubs, environmental organizations, youth groups and volunteers replacing the undesirables.

Ms. Quintana's work was recognized May 12th when the City of Miami named her Outstanding Employee of the Year.

"Not only has she been an environmental advocate, but she's also an advocate for children and education," BHA President Tory Jacobs said. "She's always providing opportunities for children at our neighborhood Southside Elementary School to enjoy and learn from the park."

The Brickell Homeowners Association has often endorsed Ms. Quintana's efforts for grants and funding that have enabled renovations and new program development.

Her latest efforts include successfully obtaining funds to add an elevated boardwalk, signage and Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant bathrooms. She obtained the money from the State of Florida and through local ADA support. She's hoping to also obtain matching funds from the Safe Neighborhood Parks Challenge Grant to restore the pond and create a learning laboratory at the park for Southside students who will help maintain the pond. Students can participate in a summer camp at the park, which includes environmental field trips, arts and crafts, recreational field trips and other activities.

Ms. Quintana credits her success to the "overwhelming support" she's received from others also dedicated to the betterment of the community, including the BHA.

Brickell area residents are encouraged to visit the eight-and-a-half-acre historic park located two blocks west of Brickell Avenue at 55 Southwest 17th Road (off South Miami Ave.). Those interested in Summer Camp are invited to call Ms. Quintana at (305) 856-6801.

Reprinted from BHA News, Winter 1996
Parks Get New Manager/Advocate

"People need to take ownership of their parks."

That's the message of a new park manager at Simpson Park: Patricia Quintana.

The removal of exotic plants is a number one priority, which translates into taking out nonnative, fast-growing invasive plants, what a layperson might call "weeds." These unwanted flora inhibit the trees and plants that have a rightful place there.

A crew from Hands-On Miami came in and cleared a pond at the park that had been overgrown for years, Quintana told BHA directors. Snake plants and air potatoes were removed.

The park manager wants and needs more volunteers since she is also organizing crews to work at Alice Wainwright Park, an environmentally protected, rare hammock. Its 23 acres also need attention, she says.

Reprinted from BHA News, Winter 2000
Wainwright Park Improvements in the Offing

Park officials are conducting a review of Alice Wainwright Park, its amenities and needed upgrades. Brickell residents' views on desired improvements are sought by Park Manager Pat Quintana. Call her at (305) 856-6801.

Reprinted from BHA News, Fall 1997
The Gate's Open at Alice Wainwright Park, for Now

Residents of Brickell and surrounding neighborhoods are awaiting the County's decision on the controversial gate at Alice Wainwright Park.

Supporters of the gate in the exclusive Cliff Hammocks Association said the primary reason for installing the gate was crime prevention, and originally promised it would be closed for only a few hours in the middle of the night. However, before the City Commission they requested permanent, 24-hour closing, a notion which created a public uproar.

Scores of residentswalkers, joggers, skaters, cyclists and others who use the routesaid putting a gate on a public right of way is unacceptable. The City kicked the issue over to the County saying it was really their call. A report is expected from the County this month. In the meantime, the gate remains chained and locked, open.

Reprinted from BHA News, Summer 1996
Vote on Bond Measure Slated for November: Brickell Area Parks May Get Help

Three parks in the Brickell area would get capital improvements as part of the $200 million general obligation bond measure to be voted on in Dade County this fall. If the measure passes, Simpson, Alice Wainwright and Southside would be among the parks, community centers and recreation facilities countywide to benefit. Historic Brickell Park, embroiled in a legal dispute between the City of Miami and the Brickell heirs, is not included in this plan since its fate is still uncertain.

The "Safe Neighborhoods Parks Act of 1996" would provide capital improvements for parks throughout Dade through an effort by a local group of community leaders and the Trust for Public Land, a national conservation group that helps raise capital for urban areas. The revenue generated from the additional tax homeowners would pay is spread countywide.

Brickell Area Parks Get Slice

About half of the 100+ parks in City of Miami territory are to get about $21 million of the $200 million package, Albert Ruder, director of the City of Miami Parks & Recreation Department said.

The plan calls for Simpson Park to get $150,000, Wainwright $100,000 and Southside Park $100,000.

The money earmarked for Simpson would go toward a greenhouse, restoration of the pond, building renovations and fencing, Ruder said. The Wainwright money would be used for a nature trail, walkways, bathroom, pavilion and picnic facilities, security lighting and landscape improvements to the playground.

At Southside, the park located behind the fire station on Second Avenue, softball, basketball and volleyball courts would be improved and landscaping enhanced.

A Battle Ahead

At their July 16th meeting, Metro-Dade Commissioners approved the plan to go before voters in November. Lengthy debate ensued about distribution of the funds throughout the county and whether all neighborhoods were getting a fair share. Everyone agreed, however, that the $200 million is only a small portion of the capital actually needed across the board.

Backers of the plan have outlined which parks would get what so that voters can be sure the money will be spent on what was promised, project director Brenda Marshall said. Additionally, the plan calls for an annual audit of expenditures of all bond proceeds.

In all cases the intent of the Trust for Public Land is that operation and management funding be secure to sustain the improvements.

"Before the municipality can get the dollars for capital improvements, they have to show the operational funds are in place," Marshall said.

Dade voters have exhibited the "no new tax" sentiment that has swept the country lately, rejecting several bond measures last year that would have increased property taxes. One to refurbish and modernize police equipment and systems for crime control recently failed at the polls.

Surveys conducted by the conservation group in Dade County twice in the past year showed a 65 percent positive response by residents when queried about how much they would tax themselves to support a bond measure for parks. The threshold was around $7 per year for the average household, based on a home value of $90,000. Nearly all Brickell Avenue condo values are above that mark.

The most pressing concerns named by people in the survey were crime, getting youth off the streets, preservation of natural areas and other quality of life issues, Marshall reported. Distrust of public officials was another theme that came up, she said.

The ordinance was drafted by a citizens advisory coalition and the individual projects are going "to be line itemed" on the ballot.

Of the $200 million, $108 million is earmarked for local parks and projects, $77 million for regional parks and $15 million for grants to address additional needs. Some of the big regional winners would include Crandon Park ($6 million), Haulover Park ($4 million), Metrozoo ($12 million) and Fairchild Tropical Garden ($4 million).

Voters can expect to start hearing more about the ballot item in the coming months through a "grassroots campaign" planned by the trust. BHA directors are deciding whether or not to take a stand on the measure.