Park and Police Department earn recognition for Sunny Isles Beach

By Bari Auerbach

From winning a design award for Pelican Community Park – to earning another gold medal in the Florida State Police Olympics – the City of Sunny Isles Beach has once again received recognition for outstanding municipal achievements.

At the Sept. 17 City Commission meeting, Mike Kroll of Miller Legg & Associates announced that in recognition of outstanding state landscape architecture work, the  Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects has awarded a 2009 Chapter Design Award to Pelican Community Park in the category of “Open Space.”

Kroll, a principal in charge of the Miller Legg design team that worked with project landscape architect Ronald Rollins, city leaders and involved citizens to turn plans for Pelican Community Park into an award-winning reality noted, “Over almost nine years, we worked to put information together and acquire grants. [Originally, the park was supposed to be] simple with a small building for restrooms – but them it evolved into the   fantastic project it is right now.  This is a credit to the vision of the City Commission and citizens recognizing the need for [this kind of recreational] facility…Now, this vision has been recognized at the state level with an award of merit for excellence in landscape architecture.”

Mayor Norman S. Edelcup recalled the Community Center building that was originally supposed to be only about 6,000 square feet was expanded to over 15,000 square feet thanks to the input of residents including Vice Mayor Lewis Thaler, who attended park design workshop meetings even prior to being elected to the City Commission.

“Today we have a fine facility that we’re very proud of,” Edelcup said. “Our residents appreciate it…Pelican Community Park is used a lot…I see hundreds of children there every day…it really is one of the outstanding parts of our city.”

The two-acre Pelican Community Park opened in August of 2008 at 18115 North Bay Road by the Sunny Isles Beach Community School. Amenities include: A little league baseball field; playground area; picnic tables; an indoor gymnasium; full-size basketball court; volleyball; storage and locker rooms; a concession area; Community Center (15,194 square feet); offices and a reception area; a first  floor recreation area and catering kitchen; a 2nd floor recreation area; arts & crafts open space and multi-purpose classrooms.

Pelican Community Park also now features 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.

Pelican Community Park facilities are available to rent for parties, birthdays, meetings and other events. For more information, contact the city’s Cultural & Human Services Department, Events Coordinator: 305-792.1706.

According to the Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects, “Pelican Community Park has become a premier active recreation park in Miami-Dade County.  By accommodating all client required program elements on this two-acre site, the design is a testament to creative and collaborative design.  The landscape architect’s design solutions respond to evolving desires of a growing city, and adapted the project to new program elements and needs. The result is a park that is a centerpiece for the City of Sunny Isles Beach.”

Special ASLA recognition was also given to: Susan Simpson, Sunny Isles Beach Cultural & Human Services Director; Assistant City Manager Jorge Vera; Ronald Rollins, RLA, Miller Legg Landscape Architect; Jaime Borrelli, AIA/Architect and Jim Borrelli, CGC/Architect of Borrelli & Partners, Inc.; Rene Sierra, General Contractor, Siltek Group Inc.; David Santana, Landscape Contractor, Tropic Landscaping; and Debbie Levine, Playground Rep. Services, Landscape Structures, Inc.

The Florida Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects held its Annual Design Awards Jury, May 1-2, 2009 in Orlando. This year, the Florida Chapter received 70 award submittals from professionals and students around the state. Pelican Community Park was one of 19 recipients of the 2009 Chapter Design Awards. More information about each winning project is available at flasla.org/2009awards.htm.

Founded in 1959, the Florida Chapter ASLA is the state-level professional association for landscape architects, representing approximately 1,000 members throughout Florida in 10 professional sections and student chapters at three Florida universities. The Florida Chapter operates as a local extension of the national body and its purpose is the advancement of knowledge, education, and skill in the art and science of landscape architecture. The Florida Chapter promotes the profession of landscape architecture and advances the practice through advocacy, education, communication, and fellowship.

Founded in 1899, the American Society of Landscape Architects is the national professional association for landscape architects, representing more than 18,200 members in 48 professional chapters and 68 student chapters. The Society's mission is to lead, educate and participate in the careful stewardship, wise planning and artful design of cultural and natural environments. For more information, visit asla.org or flasla.org.

More Parks - North & South

Just last month a ground breaking ceremony was held for the new Heritage Park coming to Sunny Isles Beach at the north end of the city (19250 Collins Avenue). Coastal Construction Group joined the City Commission for the event celebrating “the start of something big”: A four-acre multi-use park that will feature a  dog park, exercise trail, gazebo, basketball court, two tot-lots, a 500-space parking garage with office space, large green space and a picturesque entrance that will contain historical information and signage.

Mayor Norman Edelcup recently noted, “To accommodate traffic for residents, park goers and [hotel] valet parking, current plans include widening the access street Galahad Dade Boulevard from two to four lanes. All of the city’s plans for Heritage Park are geared towards transforming an existing undeveloped eyesore into yet another beautiful neighborhood park. Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we expect the work to be completed by the end of 2010.

During the Sept. 17 City Commission meeting, more good news was announced about additional green open space coming to the south end of the city. In addition to parcels already acquired on the west side of Collins Avenue, more land at 16050 Collins Avenue has been purchased by the city for public park purposes. City Attorney Hans Ottinot explained the land was sold by Arie Steiger, heralded as “a good friend to the city” and in the future, the property will be named “Steiger Family Park.”

The Sunny Isles Beach “progress report” also includes grand entryway news. In light of rave reviews the city has been receiving for creating a striking first impression by the Lehman Causeway at the north end of the city - plans are now underway to create another great first impression at the south end of the city by Sunny Isles Boulevard.    

‘Winning Gold’

At the Sept. 17 City Commission meeting, a special presentation was made to Sgt. Eddie Santiago – representing the Sunny Isles Beach Police team that won the gold medal at the Florida State Police Olympics.

Police Chief Fred Maas explained, “Every year in June, law enforcement police officers from around the state of Florida gather to compete in a variety of athletic and police skilled competitions that draw as many as 4,000 competitors. I’m a long-time believer in the physical preparedness and conditioning of police officers.” Maas also noted he was a participant in the Police Olympics for over 30 years on teams earning five gold medals.

“Team champions from 2008 successfully defended their title again this year and it wasn’t an easy task,” Maas said. “For the second time in a row, our boys defeated the City of Miami to win a gold medal. Congratulations to Sgt. Santiago and the team for the recognition they bring to Sunny Isles Beach and South Florida.”