PARTY IN THE PARK!

Artwork by Mari Chael

It's time for a party!!

Join your South Miami Neighbors at Dante Fascell Park on December 15, 2019. We're going all out this time! We've rented both pavilions. We're bringing a bounce house and we've got music supplied by Banana Chant!

Becca Lago has done an amazing job putting this event together. From arranging for the pavilion rentals, the bounce house and finding the band, she's putting together what will be our biggest and best potluck party ever!




If you want to help out, Becca has a private Facebook group that you can join.
You can also contact her via email at info.somineighbors@gmail.com

What are you bringing to the potluck??? 

Parks and Recreation Survey Extended

Please click on this link to the South Miami Parks and Recreation Department's web site to fill out the survey and express your goals and dreams for our city's open spaces.

Since there was such a small sampling of resident responses in June, the department has decided to extend the survey's availability so that they can get a more true representation of what South Miami's residents would like to see in their parks. This is your chance to add your two cents and make our city even greater.

Help shape the Parks and Recreation Master Plan!

The South Miami Department of Parks and Recreation has scheduled two public workshops to get input on the city's parks and recreation master plan. At the workshops, Miller Legg (the consultant hired by the city) will conduct a discussion of goals and objectives so that residents can discuss the community's needs.

Both workshops will be held at South Miami City Hall (6130 Sunset Drive). The first will be held Thursday, June 25, at 7p.m., and the second will be on Saturday, June 27, at 5p.m.

Residents are strongly encouraged to fill out the Parks and Recreation Residents’ Survey, which is available online at www.southmiamifl.gov. This quick (15 minute) survey allows you to give input about the future of our parks and programs.

Bat viewing tonight!

Come join the Miami Bat Squad, FIU, Bacardi and Friends of the Ludlam Trail for Bat Night!  Learn from biologist and local bat expert Dr. Kisi Bohn as she engages participants in the practice of spotting wild bats. In particular, we will be on the look out for the Florida bonneted bat which is endangered and calls the Ludlam Trail home. Snacks and refreshments will be provided by Bacardi.

Parks and Recreation announces summer camp, ballet and swim classes, and free movies in the park!

Ok, the headline kind of says it all. South Miami Parks and Recreation have announced their 2015 Summer Camp, ballet classes, swim classes, and three free outdoor movies. Summer 2015 is going to be great in the City of Pleasant Living!

More information below the break…

Ludlam Trail Charrette Follow-up Presentations April 23 and 29

This Thursday and next Wednesday, Miami-Dade County Commissioners Sosa and Suarez are convening follow-up meetings to discuss the Ludlam Trail Charrette with their constituents. Both meetings begin at 6pm.

Ludlam Trail Town Hall Meeting November 12 at South Miami High School

Friends of the Ludlam Trail is hosting a town hall meeting at South Miami High School next Wednesday, November 12, at 7p.m. Come participate in the discussion about how best to balance Flagler-FECI's desire to develop the property with building the world's next great urban linear park.

South Miami High School is at 6856 SW 53 Street.

two more opportunities to speak in support of the Ludlam Trail

South Miami neighbors are invited to come speak out in favor of the Ludlam Trail at two upcoming meetings. On Monday, October 20, the county Planning Advisory Board will discuss the value of transforming the old railway right of way into a six-mile linear park. That meeting begins at 2 p.m.

On November 19, the Board of County Commissioners will take up the subject at their meeting. Both events will be held in the County Commission Chamber at 111 NW 1 Street, Miami.

Come speak up in favor of the Ludlam Trail

Friends of the Ludlam Trail, the grass roots organization working toward turning the old FEC right of way into a beautiful linear park stretching from Dadeland to Miami International Airport, has let us know about an attempt by the railroad's parent company to change the zoning on the right of way to allow for residential development. This would all but eliminate the possibility of creating a new park.

Friends of the Ludlam Trail encourages South Miami residents to attend the three upcoming Community Council hearings to learn more about FECI’s proposal for mixed-use development with a trail component within the Ludlam Trail corridor:

·         Kendall Community Council: (12): Tuesday, September 23, 2014; 6 p.m.Kendall Village Center Civic Pavilion8625 SW 124 Ave.Miami, FL 33183

·         North Central Community Council (8): Monday, September 29, 2014; 6 p.m.MLK Plaza,2525 NW 62 St.Miami, FL 33147

·         Westchester Community Council (10): Tuesday, September 30, 2014, 6 p.m.Ruben Dario Middle School350 NW 97 Ave.Miami, FL 33172

MDC Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER) Planning department advertises in the Miami-Herald Neighbors section and also sends out postcards or notice cards in the mail ½ mile from the subject corridor. While the meeting public hearing locations are not close to the Ludlam corridor it is still within Community Council boundaries.   Those residents who would be affected the most near the Ludlam Trail corridor are especially encouraged to attend these hearings.

Friends of the Ludlam Trail

The Friends of the Ludlam Trail is reaching out to South Miami residents who are interested in environmental conservation and expanding our bicycle and pedestrian networks. A number of South Miami residents serve on the board of the Friends of the Ludlam Trail, and they invite your participation in their efforts. They have a number of ways of getting involved.

As their web site explains, "The Friends of the Ludlam Trail is a non-profit coalition dedicated to the implementation of the Ludlam Trail, a 6.2-mile linear park through the heart of Miami-Dade County within the partially abandoned Florida East Coast railway right-of-way. The park will contain community gardens and a trail that will provide a safe dedicated and direct route for cyclists and pedestrians to schools, parks, work and shopping. The trail will connect more than 34,000 people within a half-mile, walkable service area to five greenways, five schools, four parks and two transit hubs.

"The Friends of the Ludlam Trail represents the thousands of Miami-Dade County residents who want to see the Ludlam trail become an asset for the community as a running, biking, and walking trail. We see the Ludlam Trail project as a way of spurring job creation in our community, realizing immediate value increases for adjacent properties, and achieving a major transportation and recreation connection across the heart of the county. Please join us!"

City aims to build "great streets," invites comments on new plan

The city invites residents to comment on the draft intermodal transportation plan, prepared by planning consultants Kimley-Horn. The plan includes improvements to pedestrian and bicycle access throughout the city, with links to all of our parks and public spaces.

Please take some time to look over the plan and send your thoughts in an email to info@southmiamineighbors.com.

After the jump, the complete text of Kimley-Horn's Vision, Goals and Objectives document, along with drawings of proposed street configurations...

Thank you, Lorenzo Woodley!

After 21 years of service to our community, Lorenzo Woodley is retiring from the City of South Miami Parks and Recreation Department. Come celebrate his career and the next step in his life with a party at Gibson-Bethel Community Center on Friday, April 4, from 4 to 6pm.

Bike-B-Que in Palmer Park this Saturday

Cycle with your family and friends to Palmer Park for a free barbeque, on Saturday, March 22 from 11:00am to 1:00pm!