Taking a Closer Look at Matheson Hammock Park West

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Raquel Regalado, County Commissioner, District 7

As a parks lover, I’m thrilled that so many people are so passionate about Matheson Hammock Park West – even if few agree on its future.

I’ve read the emails and the petition and am taking the feedback seriously. I’ve toured the park and asked a lot of questions of the administration. I wanted to take the time to educate myself about not only the issues raised by many residents but also environmental conditions in the park, and how Matheson West fits into the larger picture of parks we build and maintain for the community’s benefit.

After spending time out at Matheson West with departments and with my own children, I’ve seen what a jewel it is. But I’ve also seen the issues that prevent everyone from enjoying it as fully as they could.

The plan on the table now is very well-intentioned, but I think taking a step back and looking at parks in that region holistically may help us find a better balance point of nature and services. Coral Gables Commissioner Vince Lago has reached out to me offering to help serve as a sounding board.

In conversations with Parks, my recommendation has been, let’s finish the Chapman dog park and fix Chapman Field Park first. This is a community park practically next door that has been all but abandoned for more than a decade. Among other things, we need to restore two baseball fields, finish the dog park access road and better disguise the mini dump with public art. These are all things I’ve been deeply involved in with Parks, DERM and Cultural Affairs.

With that done, let’s return to Matheson. Bottom line, Matheson is not like other parks. It is largely a natural forest and one of the last and largest rockland hammocks in the county, about 65 acres of the 109 acres on the west side.

What the petition started by residents asks for is: “Stop the environmental massacre at Matheson Park – West, and reopen the North side gate for ALL!!”  

Let’s take these one at a time.

For several years, there has been conflict about School House Road. Parks originally used it as an internal access road, but over time it became common practice for residents to use it to enter the park. It’s very convenient, particularly for those with limited mobility. The residents of Hammock Lake don’t want the car traffic through their neighborhood. Understandable.

Parks created a master plan to try to balance these issues by closing off the neighborhood street (arguing that a regional park needs a proper entrance), building parking elsewhere and an ADA accessible boardwalk to connect it. Parks also has proposed building a two-acre dog park, walking trails and other amenities.

The two arguments that resonate most with me are ADA accessibility and the environmental concerns. To that end, I’m working with DERM to establish best uses for all Environmentally Endangered Land (EEL) in Miami-Dade County, including Matheson. I’ve also asked Parks to look at alternatives to the boardwalk.

The purpose of the EEL program is to both preserve and restore the habitat. I think that focusing the Matheson plan on that goal and adding an educational program to highlight the unique nature of this reserve is the key to getting the balance of access and environment right for all residents who enjoy the park.

What the pandemic has taught us is that our green spaces are vital to community health and providing access to a variety of users is both beneficial and necessary. More families should be out there and to encourage that while also protecting the natural elements will require thoughtfulness and compromise.


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