If this past year with COVID has taught us anything is that we learned the importance of our beautiful natural environment, our outdoor and open spaces. We do live in paradise!
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins from District 8, our very own Mayor Karyn Cunningham and our Village Council, including Vice Mayor Leanne Tellam, Councilman Patrick Fiore, Councilman Steve Cody and Councilwoman Marsha Matson, along with Maria Nardi from Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Director could barely hold their excitement as they welcomed all and thanked those who made the reopening of the People's Dock at the Deering Estate possible.
"I remember coming out after Hurricane Irma, it was really devastating, it was really heartbreaking. So much damage. And you know, you look at all the natural features and they grow back and you can hardly see where the damage was but for the man made features, not so simple. We have to do the hard work. So I’m incredibly thrilled that we’ve restored this beautiful facility and it’s better than ever, said County Mayor Levine Cava.
The people's dock is now a floating dock instead of the previous concrete structure, which will be more resilient.
"We must prepare for those inevitable impacts that are coming from climate change, more storms and rising seas. And we’re working to strengthen our infrastructure throughout Miami-Dade County and our parks system, planning for more resilient and natural protections too. So just know this is part of the new reality, the new future. Every park in this system is important for the community that it serves", said Mayor Levine Cava.
This change is one of the positive outcomes from the pandemic. We realized how parks improve our quality of life. Parks are a critical component to our public health infrastructure. Not only for our recreation and enjoyment but for our physical and mental health. You can use the people's dock for yoga, paddling, fishing, biking, walking or just to simply enjoy the natural environment.
District 8 Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins reiterated much of the Mayor's sentiments about the pandemic. "I’m a strong believer that after darkness, there comes light. And we’ve all lived through that whether it was the pandemic or whether it was Irma." Commissioner also emphasized that District 8 has the largest number of parks in Miami-Dade County. "Forty parks, and it’s a testament to how wonderful it is to live in South Dade and how important these green spaces are" says Cohen Higgins.
Our very own Mayor Karyn Cunningham and Village Council, proclaimed today, April 29, 2021 as the people's dock at Deering Estate Day in the Village of Palmetto Bay.
Mayor Cunningham, joined by the Village Council, presented the framed proclamation to County Mayor Levine Cava. "First of all, I think the great people of the county of Miami-Dade have taken a page out of Palmetto Bay, more than finding religion because we are the Village of Parks. And Palmetto Bay has always valued our great parks. People come to the people’s dock for inspiration, they come to the people’s dock for reflection and after COVID, no greater time than take a moment of reflection. And the come to the people’s dock to throw in a fishing line periodically, all good stuff." our Mayor told the audience.
Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Director, Maria Nardi was overjoyed with all the support to complete this project. "This has really been a long awaited project. As I look around, it really is a testament to the love and passion that everyone has for this facility and for this project."
Nardi added, “When this facility was built here, it was really conceived out of an idea about access to the water. That’s how it was envisioned in terms of a place that where one can live in harmony with the landscape and with the bay. I hope everyone gets to come here, continue to enjoy this facility and continue to share on the awareness and the education about the bay and its importance to the continued protection and conservation of this habitat, of this eco system."
We could not be happier that this great treasure is once again available to the public. In the breezy, but still warm, Palmetto Bay weather, the ribbon was officially cut at approximately 10:45 a.m.
The People's Dock is officially open!
