By Bari Auerbach

From the opening of a Visitor Center and dedication of a great learning center  – to forging ahead with enhancing a vibrant Town Center plus promoting health and wellness at a new Fitness Center – progressive initiatives  to improve quality of life are  the “center of attention” in Sunny Isles Beach.

Visitor Center Opening 
Everything you always wanted to know about places to go and things to do in and around Sunny Isles Beach will be easy to ascertain at the Sunny Isles Beach Visitor Center opening on the first floor of Government Center (18070 Collins Avenue).

The City of Sunny Isles Beach and the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association will be hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony for the Visitor Center on May 14 at 10:30 a.m. during National Travel and Tourism Week.

The new Sunny Isles Beach Visitor Center, celebrating and signifying the importance of tourism, will provide answers to visitors’ questions and offer information on where to eat, places to shop and area activities. There will also be Sunny Isles Beach memorabilia including t-shirts, beach towels, post cards and posters available for purchase. Hours of operation are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.  For more information, visit  www.sunnyislesbeachmiami.com or email Ibis Romero: ibis@sibfl.net.  
 
Town Center Enhancement
In keeping with long range goals of the Sunny Isles Beach Comprehensive Plan regarding the need for parks, open space, recreational facilities and public parking - especially on the southern end of the city – the City Commission recently approved resolutions to facilitate acquisition of additional land on Sunny Isles Boulevard via eminent domain.

At an April 16 special City Commission meeting, urban planner Jack Luft and a parking analysis expert from the firm of Kimberly-Horn made presentations supporting the Sunny Isles Beach “Open Space and Public Parking Initiative” devised to enhance the  Town Center district encompassing Sunny Isles Boulevard to 172nd Street on the west side of Collins Avenue. 

Acting City Manager Rick Conner and City Attorney Hans Ottinot reported, “It is recommended that the City Commission adopt the resolutions establishing public purpose and necessity to acquire properties located at 215-255 Sunny Isles Boulevard and 151 Sunny Isles Boulevard…the City has authority to condemn private property for public parks, squares and grounds or any other municipal purpose.

“The City Commission held a workshop to evaluate and discuss the need for open space and recreational facilities in the city and the need for public parking to serve the city’s growing population. At that workshop, Jack Luft, the city’s planning consultant, presented a report demonstrating a need for a public park on the south end of the city to satisfy the increased demand for open space. In his report, Mr. Luft stated that the north side of Sunny Isles Boulevard is the optimal location for a public park and multi-use municipal garage.

“Mr. Luft stated that the parcels on Sunny Isles Boulevard are the only remaining parcels in the city where the city can build a multi-dimensional park for use by residents and visitors. Mr. Luft’s report also indicates a need for a public parking garage to serve the new park and nearby recreational uses like the historic Newport fishing pier, which the city is currently spending at least four million dollars to rebuild.

“The need for a public parking garage for new and established recreational uses was supported by a public parking analysis prepared by the city’s parking consultant. Since the workshop in March of 2008, the city has taken steps to implement the open space plan and public parking garage analysis. The city has acquired two parcels on the north side of Sunny Isles Boulevard in furtherance of these plans. These two parcels lack sufficient size to create a public park with a public parking garage.

“In order to create the park and parking garage outlined in the reports, the city must acquire the parcels located at 21-255 and 151 Sunny Isles Boulevard. These parcels are located east of the parcels owned by the city. One of the parcels is in fact adjacent to one of the city-owned parcels.

“In addition to purchasing lots on Sunny Isles Boulevard, the city has taken some other steps to create more open space on Sunny Isles Boulevard. For example, the city has created a park-like setting in the retention areas leased to the city by the Florida Department of Transportation. One of the retention areas is located adjacent to 151 Sunny Isles Boulevard.

“Staff and the consultants have considered alternate sites, costs, plans, environmental and safety issues in selecting the properties on Sunny Isles Boulevard. The acquisition of the aforementioned parcels is consistent with the city’s Comprehensive Plan adopted in 2000 and amended thereafter.” Jack Luft added, “This has been ten years in the making…and will demonstrate to the State of Florida [that goals and requirements of the city’s Comprehensive Plan] are being achieved.”

Learning Center Excelling
On April 24, a dedication ceremony was held at the Sunny Isles Beach Community School – where students are now looking forward to summer break upon completing their first term at the new school which became one of the city’s greatest new assets in August of last year.

Since opening, SIBCS has been educating over 1,000 students benefitting from a challenging curriculum emphasizing mathematics, science and technology as well as comprehensive assessments tracking scholastic achievement plus a strong focus on parental involvement..

Principal Dr. Annette Weissman recently informed the community, “SIBCS is now open for registration for the 2009-2010 school year…As always, our staff is available to answer your questions about registration, placement and school policy, In August, we’ll be holding an orientation meeting so children can visit their classrooms and meet their teachers.” For more information, phone: 305-931-6161

Fitness Center Inviting Members
Just in time for getting “beach-bodies” ready for summer, Pelican Community Park has opened a state-of- the-art fitness center with cardio equipment, a five-station weight training center and free weights.

To utilize the Fitness Center, you must be at least 18-years-old and a Community Center member. Hours of operation are  Monday through Saturday 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Community Center membership benefits also include priority registration in all programs, athletic leagues, camps and lessons held at the Community Center; discounts up to 20% on all programs; plus use of the computer lab and gymnasium when available. For more information, phone: 305-792-1706.