Our children are our future and, as such, they are shaping the future of our parks in Palmetto Bay! A novel but senseful idea to allow children to chime in and tell us what they want to see as we improve our park facilities over the next ten years.

Recently, the Palmetto Bay Mayor & Council approved the update of the existing Parks Master Plan, which was first approved ten years ago.

The Parks Master Plan serves as a guiding document for the development of our park facilities usually over a ten-year span. It is a roadmap for the planning, funding and implementation of future improvements to each Village park. This year, we also have the Veterans' Park, our newest addition to our park inventory!

The process involves identifying future improvements for each park based on what residents need and desire, which is determined through a series of public meetings, workshops and surveys. The information gathered in today's Kids Town Hall will also be considered when creating a roadmap for future park development.

Today, fourth and fifth grade students at Coral Reef Elementary School closely examined our park facilities. The kids reviewed Coral Reef Park, and the future recreation center in particular, Palmetto Bay Park's basketball court and skate park and the new Veterans' Park. Mayor Cunningham took the opportunity to recognize School Principal Christina Guerra and the students, proclaiming April 20, 2022 as 7th Annual Kids Town Hall Day in Palmetto Bay.

With paper, pencils, a park map, and highlighters in their hands, they took to work to come up with a list of amenities needed at our park facilities: