ANALYSIS:
On March 11, 2015, City Commission accepted the recommendation of the Neighborhoods/Community Affairs Committee to authorize Administration to utilize the conceptual plan prepared by the Planning Department as a basis to prepare a Request for Qualifications (RFQ) for final design.
On May 19, 2016 the City executed an agreement with Savino Miller Design Studio for the Landscaping, Architectural and Engineering Design Services for the Future Community Park Project.
The park will be developed on the 19.4 acre former Par 3 Golf Course as a natural passive park. The proposed elements include a central lake; open meadows and informal open play field areas; landforms; pavilion; tennis courts (6) with restroom facilities; children’s playground; dog park; boardwalk and pathways; security lighting; vita course and fitness cluster; butterfly garden; linear water feature and parking lot. The passive park will preserve landmark specimen trees and pastoral spaces.
On June 6, 2017 the City Commission directed staff to proceed and to present the project at the Design Review Board (DRB). Staff was also directed to add lighting to the tennis courts.
On September 5, 2017 the conceptual drawings and renderings for the project were presented at the DRB meeting. A shortened version of the DRB package is attached (Exhibit A). The DRB recommended the approval of the project with certain conditions (Exhibit B).
The estimated total budget (Exhibit C) required is $18,301,375. However, $1,211,537 has been encumbered for contract and fees, leaving a net total budget requirement of $17,089,838. The current available budget is $3,894,934, therefore requiring additional funding in the amount of $13,194,904.
The available budget includes $800,000, set aside for impending pollution remediation as required by Miami Dade County Regulatory and Economic Resources (RER)/permitting process.
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