At the March 18 City Commission meeting, a discussion regarding plans for the park grounds at Heritage Park (19200 Collins Avenue) focused on design elements including a “Heritage Wall” commemorating city history and founders – and just how high the wall should be.

After viewing schematics presented for the Heritage Wall proposed for the northeast corner of the four-acre park site, Mayor Norman S. Edelcup and Commissioners expressed their opinion that the wall appeared too high – rising to approximately 12 feet at its highest point; and that steps leading up to the wall were an undesirable design element. “We would prefer the wall to be at grade level with no stairs…we also don’t want it to be so high that it detracts from the look and feel of open space,” Edelcup said.

Commissioner George “Bud” Scholl also inquired about having an interactive water feature by the wall, noting it would be a nice water-play addition for children—but City Manager Rick Conner explained that because HRS requires bathroom facilities with showers to be located within close proximity to an interactive water feature, it wouldn’t be feasible to have a water play area close to the wall.

Ultimately, the Commission agreed it would be necessary to “go back to the drawing board” on the park’s Heritage Wall feature to determine how high it should be. At the next Commission meeting on April 15, easier to visualize, three-dimensional schematics will be presented proposing “new heights” to help give the Commission greater insight into what wall dimensions will be optimal, taking into consideration that Heritage Park will be surrounded by a six-foot high fence. During the park discussion, it was also noted that other major components will include two playgrounds (one for children ages 2 to 5 and another for children ages 5 to 12); a “great lawn” area, about thirty percent larger than at Samson Park and large enough to accommodate approximately 1,500 people for special events such as the city’s Jazz Fest; and a 500-space parking garage, already under construction.

“Heritage Park will be a great asset to the city,” noted City Manager Rick Conner.

‘MORE GREEN ON THE SCENE’

Sunny Isles Beach residents can also look forward to even more parks coming to the south end of the city on the west side of Collins Avenue – extending from Sunny Isles Boulevard to the south entrance of the city. At a Commission meeting on Jan. 28, a resolution passed naming the South Collins Park System as “The Intracoastal Parks.”

Individual arms were also designated and named as follows: Sailfish Park, Dolphin Park, Stingray Park, Manatee Park, Marlin Park and Tarpon Park. City Manager Rick Conner noted family names in honor of benefactors will also be added at a later date. Mayor Norman S. Edelcup recently noted, “With a growing population in Sunny Isles Beach starting to include many young families, the City Commission is working hard to provide more open green and park space as called for in its Comprehensive Plan.”

Plans to build a safer designated “Skateboard Park” area including a concession stand at Town Center Park are also underway. Susan Simpson, Director of Cultural and Human Services explained the Skateboard Park will be located in the area of the park where the city’s annual Easter Egg Hunt event has been previously held and that the Egg Hunt will now be moved to Pelican Park.

HIGH SCHOOL ‘WALL OF GIVING’

At the March 18 City Commission meeting, principal of Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Sr. High School Sally Alayon and PTSA member Marianna Talalaevsky appeared to present a video of the school’s achievements just one year since opening; and request a donation from the City of Sunny Isles Beach that may help create a “wall of giving” at the school.

At least 300 students who reside in Sunny Isles Beach are currently enrolled in the high school neighboring FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus, which is also attended by students from Golden Beach, North Miami and North Miami Beach.

After the Sunny Isles Beach K-8 Community School opened, a donor wall was established to help provide for “varied and enriched” programming in light of inadequate state funding. The donor wall helps raise funds overseen by trustees providing for capital needs such as new technologies to aid teachers, the creation of unique school programs and purchase of educational tools and resources not allocated in the school’s budget.

Talalaevsky noted that the city and Mayor Norman S. Edelcup helped create a “Wall of Giving” at the K-8 Community School to acknowledge and display a range of donations and expressed her opinion that a similar wall would be ideal for the Alonzo and Tracy Mourning High School – where at least 50 percent of enrollment is expected to be comprised of students from Sunny Isles Beach within the next two years.

The Commission concurred the following “three-pronged approach” to supporting the high school could be most advantageous:

Approving a city-funded donation earmarked for a specific purpose(s); developing a scholarship program sponsored by the city that would be initiated by the beginning of next fiscal year; and forming a city-school partnerships providing opportunities for students to earn compensation in return for providing services such as creating art in public places, producing films about the city or presenting musical performances at special events.

Inviting members of the Commission to attend the high school’s official dedication ceremony on April 16, Alayon and Talalaevsky said they would be back at the April 15 City Commission meeting with a formal proposal for forging a fundraising partnership with Sunny Isles Beach.

It could have been described as “the greatest expo on earth” when L’Expo du Cirque held at the Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort came to town, shinning the spotlight on the City of Sunny Isles Beach. The unprecedented networking event presented by the Aventura Marketing Council, Sunny Isles Beach Tourism and Marketing Council and Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau showcased products and services offered by over 85 diverse businesses, resorts, non-profit organizations and attractions including Jungle Island.

The evening’s stellar entertainment was presented by the South Florida Circus Art School and talented mimes from Krop Sr. High’s STAR Academy. Guests were also invited to see the new Seven Seas Spa & Salon – one of the newest attractions at the newly remodeled Newport resort. Upon arriving at the Newport, a record turnout of guests were greeted by “L’Expo du Cirque” performers extending an invitation on behalf of South Florida Circus Art School (SFCAS) to “Come Fly With Us!” Based in North Miami Beach, SFCAS encourages enthusiasm for and dedication to the circus arts with classes and training as well as professional youth and adult performance troupes that present community outreach circus shows at events and for charitable organizations.

The fantastically festive atmosphere extended to the Seven Seas Spa & Salon, a new Aveda Concept Salon featuring New York’s renowned Dashing Diva Nail Bar – a glamorous highlight of the Newport’s multi-million dollar hotel renovation. For the style-conscious coveting beauty on a budget, the full-service salon promises “rest, renewal and rejuvenation” facilitated by an enlightened team of beauty and massage professionals prepared to “pamper you with a VIP experience that will immerse you in an unparalleled journey of the senses.”

Designed by Mabel Norman of Acropolis Interior Design, the Seven Seas Spa & Salon boasts sparkling crystal walls, opulent granite and a color scheme accented by amethyst, associated with peaceful environments and key lime, symbolizing growth and harmony— paralleling attributes of Sunny Isles Beach, becoming internationally renowned as “Florida’s Riviera.”

After members of the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission joined in the official ribbon cutting ceremony for the Seven Seas Spa & Salon, the “ohhs and ahhs!” continued at the Newport’s majestic Atlantis Ballroom — transformed into a pseudo big top complete with over the top cirque-style decorations and a spectacular array of hors’doeuvres proving the Newport’s expert catering staff never “clowns around” when it comes to creating the very best social and corporate functions.

The Newport is just one of many fine resorts benefitting from membership in the Sunny Isles Beach Tourism and Marketing Council (formerly known as the Sunny Isles Beach Resort Association). Executive Director Ibis Romero explains, “Over the years, we’ve evolved into a domestic and global tourism marketing arm for Sunny Isles Beach as well as a catalyst for branding our beautiful city around the world.”

Sunny Isles Beach Mayor Norman S. Edelcup added, “Our commitment is to create an environment in which businesses, residents and tourists thrive in our community. To that end, Ms. Romero will be working hand in hand with the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau to position Sunny Isles Beach for success in the domestic and global tourism market; and continue brining more world class special events to the city such as the Sunny Isles Beach Jazz Festival and the OSS Off Shore Powerboat Races.”

“…The City has a strong desire to address concerns…and work with residents to improve quality of life.” City Manager Rick Conner recently expressed sentiments shared by the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission in a “letter of understanding” regarding how to create optimal traffic flow for Heritage Park and the parking garage currently being constructed at the north end of the city (19200 Collins Avenue).

Major components of the four-acre Heritage Park site include two playgrounds (one for children ages 2 to 5 and another for children ages 5 to 12); a “great lawn” area, about thirty percent larger than at Samson Park and large enough to accommodate approximately 1,500 people for special events such as the city’s Jazz Fest; a 1,358 square foot stage; an interactive water feature; a Heritage Wall commemorating city history and founders; and a 500-space parking garage, already under construction.

The letter of understanding addressed to Oceanview condo association presidents was written as a follow-up to a Heritage Parkrelated meeting held in January to discuss possible traffic solutions and includes recommendations endorsed by Kimley-Horn & Associates – the firm retained by the city to conduct an access analysis report. According to Conner, the report concluded that closing the curb cut currently located on Collins Avenue and rerouting traffic to utilize the parking garage via Galahad-Dade Boulevard and the private roadway located within the Ocean Reserve property would not significantly impact the level of service on Galahad-Dade Boulevard.

The letter also outlines further steps the city plans to take in order to alleviate traffic concerns, including but not limited to the following: The city [has agreed] to construct a third inbound lane on Galahad-Dade Boulevard on the western end to allow queuing for the cars (residents) approaching the automatic gate to bypass the cars (non-resident) stopped at the guardhouse. The third lane will start as far east as allowable. Of the two remaining lanes going all the way to Collins, the southern one will be for access to the park and the park garage.

The city will reconstruct Galahad-Dade Boulevard to introduce two new additional west bound lanes. One will be the approximate length of the Heritage Park property to allow permitted residents of Oceanview a segregated and unrestricted access. The second will be approximately two hundred feet in length and will be for visitors and guests who will have to stop at the guard house. A third lane will allow direct access to the park and parking garage. In addition, two exit lanes will also run essentially the full length of the park. One will be for traffic turning northbound onto Collins and one will be for traffic turning southbound onto Collins.

The city will require the Aventura Beach Club Condominium Association (commonly referred to as the Ramada and/or Marco Polo) to pay for sufficient police traffic patrol if attendance at an event held at the Ramada, for which the garage located within Heritage Park is primarily being constructed, meets the special events guidelines established by the city from time to time. The city’s policy is to provide police traffic patrol at all appropriate city events at all city parks and this policy will be applied to Heritage Park as well.

The city has instructed the architects who designed Heritage Park to include a structural opening on the northern face of the parking garage at the east end. This opening will be covered with the decorative perforated aluminum that will be used on the northern and eastern faces of the building. The purpose of this structural opening is to permit ingress or egress to the parking garage from Collins other than Galahad-Dade Boulevard in the event future traffic congestion makes the current anticipated ingress and egress to the parking garage via Galahad-Dade Boulevard and the roadway located within the Ocean Reserve Condominium property undesirable, dangerous, etc. and less safe than the proposed opening as determined by the city’s traffic consultant.

The city will install a gate in the fence at the existing curb cut on Collins Avenue to be used for servicing and maintaining Heritage Park as needed. The purpose of maintaining the curb cut on Collins and installing a gate in the fence at that location is to enable the construction of a servicing and maintenance roadway therefrom to the structural opening [previously described]. This roadway shall be used strictly for servicing and maintenance of the park unless changed by the City Commission.

The city will not in any way interfere with an exclusive easement rights belonging to Oceanview A and B. The city agrees to examine the traffic patterns implemented as part of the initial Heritage Park development, layout and traffic ingress and egress pattern if any of the following occur:

• If the level of service at the intersection of Galahad-Dade Boulevard and Collins Avenue drops to a D or below as defined in the Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

• If the city is able to obtain permission from the Florida Department of Transportation to place a traffic signal at the southern end of Heritage Park on Collins Avenue

• If the events listed above occur, the city will take remedial appropriate actions to address the traffic issues.

Public Input for Skateboard Park

On April 16, the City of Sunny Isles Beach extended an invitation for the public to meet with city staff and designers to provide input regarding a designated skateboard park proposed for the northwest corner of Town Center Park at 17200 Collins Avenue.

Good News for Public High School

On April 15, the City Commission approved a $3,000 donation from the city to the Marine Science Program at Alonzo and Tracy Mourning Sr. High School. Principal Sally Alayon and PTSA member Marianna Talalaevsky had previously appeared before the Commission to present a video of the school’s achievements just one year since opening and request a city donation.

At least 300 students who reside in Sunny Isles Beach are currently enrolled in the high school neighboring FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus, which is also attended by students from Golden Beach, North Miami and North Miami Beach. It was noted that at least 50 percent of the high school’s enrollment is expected to be comprised of students from Sunny Isles Beach within the next two years.

Mayor Norman S. Edelcup also reiterated the benefits of forming city-school partnerships providing opportunities for students to earn compensation in return for providing services such as creating art in public places, producing films about the city or presenting musical performances at special events.