On June 6, 2018, the City’s “Brick Paver” program was created by way of Resolution No. 2018-30143 to provide the public an opportunity to purchase commemorative brick pavers on the Beachwalk corridor between 53rd and 64th Streets, at the cost of $1,000 per paver.
By mid-2019, following discussions regarding both the “Adopt-A-Bench” Program and the “Brick Paver” Program, the City Commission opted to end the “Brick Paver” Program by way of Resolution No. 2019-30947, due to a perceived lack of public interest.
At the December 8, 2021 meeting, the City Commission referred a discussion at the Public Safety and Quality of Life Committee (PSNQLC) to potentially amend the previously repealed "Adopt-A-Bench" program.
At the March 7, 2022 PSNQLC meeting, the Parks and Recreation Department shared that after further analysis, it was determined that the Beachwalk is not a good location for the "Brick Paver" program due to the following factors:
- Brick pavers need a solid base for support so that they do not shift out of place over time.
- The pavers on the Beachwalk are built on a sand base which is softer and will lead to settlement and misalignment of the pavers.
- The constant pedestrian and bicycle traffic are better suited for a smooth level surface.
- Brick pavers are more expensive than regular surfaces and require more maintenance in high-traffic areas.
At the end of the discussion, the Administration recommended that if it was still the desire of the Committee to move forward with the program, that it be included in an appropriate future park development such as the Lummus Park Masterplan. It was further recommended that the donation fee start at $1,500, with net proceeds from the brick paver program going towards educational programming.
Based on community feedback received by the Department about the program, it was estimated that the potential application process for the “Brick Paver” program may deter interest and somewhat hinder the program's potential to reach a larger audience. As it currently stands, any program with commemorative inscriptions would need to undergo a public hearing process pursuant to 82-504(a)(2)(a) of the City Code, which may take anywhere between 2-3 months. It is recommended that the program bypass the formal public hearing process, and that the Commission grant the responsible department the ability to approve applications administratively.
It is also important to note that the Sabrina Cohen Foundation has begun a “Brick Paver” program at Beach View Park, which is located on 53rd Street and Collins Avenue, as part of the adaptive recreation center and the fully accessible park.
At its May 4, 2022 meeting, the City Commission approved a Resolution, accepting the recommendation of the PSNQLC at its March 7, 2022 meeting to amend Resolution No. 2019-30947 relating to the City's "Adopt-A-Bench" program, including reinstating the commemorative bench plaque element of the program. Additionally, at its June 22, 2022 meeting, the City Commission approved an Ordinance amending Subsection 82-503(B) of the City Code to exempt "Adopt-A-Bench" or "Brick Paver" naming programs approved by the City Commission from the requirements of Subsection 82-503(A).
At its July 27, 2022 meeting, the PSNQLC brought back the discussion of the "Brick Paver" program, having been approved by City Commission, seeking assistance from the Public Works Department as to where the commemorative pavers could be installed. Public Works shared the same concerns with Committee members as Parks and Recreation did. A motion was made to identify a small portion or one block of the Beachwalk, possibly at the entrance on 26th Street, right on the coral-colored paver border, and to comeback in September 2022 with an update.
At the October 20, 2022 meeting of the PSNQLC, Public Works presented a few potential locations along the Beachwalk for consideration, with 26th Street Beachwalk entrance being the best option. The PSNQLC made a motion to proceed with the Commemorative Brick Paver Program, with installation occurring at the 26th Street Beachwalk entrance. To minimize the likelihood of creating depressions within the Beachwalk's walking surface due to the bricks settling, the commemorative bricks will be installed within the decorative coral-colored band along the perimeter of the walkway.