The Administration recommends accepting the recommendation of the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee, at its July 30, 2021 meeting, to accept the Sabrina Cohen Foundation, Inc.’s donation of up to $73,000 for additional funding to be applied toward the inclusive outdoor park project at Beach View Park, adjacent to the future adaptive recreation center.   

On October 31, 2017, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2017-30082, approving a Management Agreement with the Sabrina Cohen Foundation (the “Foundation”), for the Foundation to raise the funds and be responsible for all of the expenses related to the City’s design, development, and construction of an Adaptive Recreation Center (the “Center”) to be located within a portion of the City’s P72 surface parking lot at 53rd Street and Collins Avenue.  The Agreement provides that the City would be the owner of the Center, which would be used for the primary purpose of providing the general public and, specifically persons living with physical and cognitive disabilities with an accessible access point to the beach and related beach programming.  

On July 2, 2018, pursuant to the Agreement’s terms, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2018-30377 approving the Foundation’s proposed Concept Plan for the Center.

On January 16, 2019, the City Commission approved Amendment No. 1 via Resolution No. 2019-30671 updating certain technical references, consistent with the Concept Plan approved by the City Commission on July 2, 2018 and applicable provisions of the City Code.  

On July 31, 2019, the City Commission approved Amendment No. 2 via Resolution No. 2019-30922 extending the fundraising schedule and deadlines in the Agreement by 12 months in order to provide the Foundation with additional time to raise donations for the design and construction of the Center. 

Due to the COVID-19 emergency, the Foundation was entitled to an extension to their fundraising schedule and deadline, which is set to expire in September 2021. 

During the July 30, 2021 Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee meeting, the Committee approved to accept up to $73,000 from the Foundation towards the inclusive outdoor park and beach project.

Through a separate resolution, the City will be authorizing Administration to work with the Foundation on leveraging additional funding for the project, through various sponsorship opportunities.