Miami-Dade Parks celebrates 90 years of inspiring people to Live A Park Life!
This year, the Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department is celebrating 90 years since its founding in 1929. To commemorate this important milestone, the Parks Department is hosting special events and activities all year long, and everyone’s invited!
“Ninety years and going strong,” Miami-Dade Parks Director Maria I. Nardi declared. “We want to thank the community for their support and commitment all these years. Miami-Dade Parks shares a history of significant contributions to our community’s environmental preservation, recreational and cultural experiences, and continued progress in building a sustainable parks system for residents and visitors to enjoy; and we wouldn’t be here without our past, present and future park champions.”
Now is the perfect opportunity to rediscover all that Miami-Dade Parks has to offer. There’s plenty of outdoor play spaces packed with recreational amenities to suit everyone’s tastes, at parks, nature trails, beaches and golf courses, and at world-famous Zoo Miami, Deering Estate and Fruit & Spice Park.
Stay up to date on Miami-Dade Parks’ 90th anniversary celebration. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram #Celebrate90 and visit the website for information on the yearlong party!
Here are some upcoming signature celebrations:
Feb. 1
Glow in the Park
6 p.m.-midnight at Tropical Park. An evening of craft beer and wine, music, LED games, food trucks and more!
Feb. 14 Moonlight and Music Valentine’s Day Concert 7-10 p.m. at the Deering Estate. Concert starts at 8 p.m. Outdoor concert under the stars featuring Vintash Band with Michaela Paige and Raymond Daniel Rodriguez, with special guest Saxman Lee Gabe. General admission tickets $35. Purchase tickets online or call 305-235-1668, ext. 233.
March 1 : Bike 05 Bike to Work kicks off Bike Month in Miami-Dade! Residents are asked to leave their cars behind and join the ride, if only for this one day, to reduce traffic congestion and experience the stress-relieving health benefits of pedaling a bike. Stay tuned for details and a complete calendar of monthlong activities at Bike305.com.
March 2 : Day at the Park Countywide event at Crandon, Greynolds, Haulover, Homestead Bayfront parks and the Deering Estate. Each park will be hosting its own unique activities and offering discounts or freebies! Contact the park of interest for times and more details.
March 2-3 : 29th annual Asian Culture Festival 10 a.m.-5 p.m. at Fruit & Spice Park. Festival-goers will enjoy a variety of Asian arts, crafts, entertainment, plants and exotic cuisine. Admission: $12; children ages 6-12: $5; free for age 5 and under.
March 7 : 31st annual In the Company of Women Awards ceremony and dinner 6-9 p.m. at the Coral Gables Country Club. Presented by Miami-Dade Parks in partnership with the Miami-Dade Commission for Women and the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade. Tickets and list of award winners here.
March 31 : 15th annual Deering Seafood Festival 10 a.m.-6 p.m., at the Deering Estate. Scrumptious seafood, celebrity chef demos, kids’ games and rides, live entertainment, educational activities and more! Adults: $20 in advance, $25-at gate; children ages 4-14: $7 in advance, $10-at gate.
April 6 -7: Redland Blues & Barbeque Festival 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at Fruit & Spice Park. The festival features award-winning BBQ and incredible blues and country music. Lots of children’s activities including pony rides will be available.
April 12-14: Miami International Agricultural, Horse and Cattle Show Doors open at 9 a.m. Friday and Saturday, 10 a.m. Sunday at Tropical Park. Admission is $3; free for children under age 12. Enjoy a day of live music, educational booths, agri-business and livestock product vendors, equestrian shows, dog obedience demonstrations, kids’ activities and more. Visit website for updates.
Miami-Dade Parks celebrates 90 years of inspiring people to live a park life!
The Miami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department was created on March 1, 1929, and on January 14, 1930, the beautiful Matheson Hammock became the County’s very first park. That land acquisition opened the way for six subsequent parks to come on board: Greynolds Park, Haulover Beach Park, Homestead Bayfront Park, Crandon Park, Fruit & Spice Park, and the Deering Estate, which are now known as our Heritage Parks.
Today, Miami-Dade Parks is an award-winning parks system, the third largest in the United States, consisting of 270 parks and 13,573 acres of land, with six golf courses, six marinas, 13-miles of beaches, and favorite attractions like Zoo Miami, the Deering Estate and Fruit & Spice Park. The department provide evidence-based after school sports development and summer camp programs for children and teens, and activities for active older adults and people with disabilities. It promotes conservation and stewardship initiatives through its nature centers and educational tours presented by EcoAdventures, free outdoor fitness gyms, biking and walking trails, and aquatic centers that offer water exercise and water safety classes, and swimming lessons.
A three-time National Gold Medal winner for excellence in park and recreation administration, Miami-Dade is the only municipal park system of its size to be awarded National Accreditation from the Commission of Accreditation of Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Agencies. The Parks Department is supported by the Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade which shares the vision of a seamless, sustainable parks and open space system that enhances the quality of life of Miami-Dade residents and visitors.
Our vision includes great parks, great public spaces, great natural and cultural places, great greenway and water trails, and great streets! The goal is that every Miami-Dade resident can walk (within 5 minutes) to a central neighborhood park or civic space to picnic, play, socialize and enjoy special events as well as safely and comfortably walk or bike through a network of shaded and safe bikeways and trails that connect to parks, neighborhoods, schools, employments centers, civic buildings and other community destinations. While it is projected to take 50 years to fully implement, the new framework will encourage revitalization and sustainability and fully engage residents of surrounding neighborhoods in the design and stewardship of each park.
