Grand opening for new day docks at Pelican Island

On Saturday, Jan. 19, 2019, at 10 a.m., the Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department and District 3 Commissioner and Miami-Dade County Commission Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson, will host the grand opening and dedication of the new day docks at Pelican Island nature preserve and bird sanctuary, located just 400 yards offshore from the Parks Department’s Pelican Harbor Marina.

Among the guest speakers is Spencer Crowley, Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) Commissioner.

Everyone is invited to come out and see the new development, located within District 3, which includes a 27-foot fixed dock and two 40-foot floating docks. The Marina is providing free round-trip water taxi transportation for this event, aboard the Pelican Skipper. First boarding is 9 a.m., and runs every 20 minutes until noon.
At 9 a.m., scores of volunteers will arrive via paddleboards, kayaks, and canoes to lend a hand in the iPaddle Critical Splash Bay Clean Up for Pelican Island Bay, a community effort to help free birds and fish from man-made litter.

“I am very excited to see these new day docks at Pelican Island. These first-class facilities improve accessibility and enhance visitor experience to this offshore jewel. I look forward to seeing more residents and visitors enjoying their days here boating, fishing, picnicking, and walking the trails, as well as pitching in to help keep these natural areas pristine and litter free,” said Chairwoman Edmonson.

“We are proud to introduce this new park development. The new docks have increased dockage space on the island by 100 percent and the floating sections make it easier for all types of vessels to dock and board passengers. This is a great example of how the Parks Department is working to better connect Miami-Dade County’s precious greenways and blueways for our sustainable future,” said Maria I. Nardi, Miami-Dade Parks Director.

Miami-Dade Parks completed the project in conjunction with engineer Ammann & Whitney; architect Ivan Marroquin; and construction contractors Shoreline Foundation, Inc.

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The new development cost approximately $710,000.  Funding was provided by Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND), Coastal Park and Marina Enterprise (CPME), and Florida Boating Improvement Program (FBIP) grants.

The 10-acre Pelican Island also features barbeque grills, picnic tables, and shelters. The island is open to the public and can be reserved for large groups. For more information, call 305-754-9330 or visit the web page.