Did you know that Miami Lakes has more parks, per 1,000 residents, that an other municipality in Florida?
According to Tony Lopez, director of Community and Leisure Services for the town, Miami Lakes has 101 parks, totaling approximately 125 acres. The parks range from 30 acres for Miami Lakes Optimist Park, 18 acres for Royal Oaks Park, to .05 acres for the park in the cul-de-sac in Loch Isle.
There are 41 tot-lot parks, two active/athletic parks, two community centers, six lakefront beaches, 2 greenways, two trails, and a marina.
Future developments include a state-of-the-art youth center, and a new clubhouse at Miami Lakes Optimist Park. All of this is managed and maintained by the town’s Department of Community and Leisure Services. Even Barbara Goleman High School, at 14100 N.W. 89 Avenue, is officially a park.
The greenways average 20-feet wide and are up to 1/4 mile long. The longest ones are along the southeast side of Dade Pine Avenue, and the south and southeast side of Lake Patricia Drive. The purpose of these greenways is to present residents with a wide and verdant vista as one drives down that street. Adjacent property owners are encouraged to respect these properties and leave them open for all to enjoy.
There are two trails – one along N.W. 170 Street at the north border of Miami Lakes – and a new one about the open. The N.W. 170 Street trail is 1 mile long and borders the canal. The new one is planned along Miami Lakeway North connecting Miami Lakes Middle School to Miami Lakes K-8 Center as a Safe Route to School.
Another neat development is the Eagle Scouts’ Poetry Park west of Sabal Drive, presently available for use by groups wanting to use the area by contacting the Community and Leisure Services Department. The Poetry Park has seating for people to read their books in the cool shade of the Cypress trees along the canal bank.
Additional park highlights include 27 Dogi-Stations, with bags and a disposal can for picking up after dogs, and they can be found just outside many parks in the swale area. Residents are encouraged to use them to keep the parks and swales clean.
A future dog recreational area park is also being planned.
“Did You Know” is provided as a public service by The Miami Laker. If you have a question or concern about conditions in Miami Lakes and would like to see it featured in “Did You Know,” email MiamiLaker1@aol.com, or call the main office: 305-817-4078, or the Editor: 305-817-4007.