1/24/2016 0:00:00
Residents express concern over the City of Miami Springs plan to demolish and replace the wooden tot lot play structure located at Prince Field. As many of you know, the tot lot was built by a grass roots community effort. Residents came together to volunteer time, labor, and money to build our one of a kind tot lot.
However, the City of Miami Springs recently closed the tot lot for safety concerns and decided voted to demolish the tot lot many of our residents helped to build years ago.
Below youll find video of residents expressing their concern over the demolition of the tot lot at the last council meeting. Youll also see commentary from residents expressing their concerns on Facebook. Plus, read the letter from Donna Hernandez urging residents to attend the next council meeting on Monday, January 25th at 7pm.
RESIDENT FEEDBACK VIDEO:
LETTER FROM DONNA HERNANDEZ:
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR TAX DOLLARS GO TO THE MONDAY, 1/23 COUNCIL MEETING!
ASK COUNCIL TO TABLE THE PRINCE FIELD STRUCTURE DISCUSSION AGENDA ITEM
UNTIL PROPERLY INSPECTED BY QUALIFIED PERSONNEL OFFERED IN THIS LETTER TO COUNCIL
Please forward this to everyone concerned with demolitioning of the Prince Field Structure prior to a qualified inspection. Call and or email the Mayor and council at the emails and numbers below REQUESTING ANY DISCUSSION ON THE PRINCE FIELD STRUCTURE TO BE TABLED UNTIL THE STRUCTURE HAS BEEN INSPECTED BY THE QUALIFIED VOLUNTEER GENERAL CONTRACTOR/INSPECTOR AND ARCHITECT AND THE SUBMISSION OF THEIR REPORTS.
Tax money is OUR money regardless if it comes from: Local, County, State or Federal funds
garciaz@miamisprings-fl.gov, petralandaj@miamsprings-fl.gov, bainb@miamisprings-fl.gov, bestb@miamisprings-fl.gov, buchnerr@miamisprings-fl.gov
Mayor Garcia 305 301-5887, Council Members: R. Buckner 305 972-2360, Jaimie Petralanda 305 888-2995, Bob Best 786 319-0786
This letter was sent to Council today 1/22 @ 4:30 pm
January 22, 2016
To: Mayor, Council and City Manager
City of Miami Springs
Re: Demolition of Prince Field Structure Council Meeting Agenda Item
Changed from February 8th meeting to January 25th Meeting
In lieu of the unexpected change of the above Agenda Item, I respectfully request the council to Table any discussion concerning the Prince Field Structure until council has afforded the volunteer General Contractor/Inspector and Architect mentioned below to inspect the condition of the structure pro bono and afford their findings to council and residents.
Residents attending the January 11th meeting are of the understanding from councils discussion, that the structures status would be addressed as an Agenda Item at the Februarys Meeting. I would think the council would not want to exclude these residents from further discussions. Also, it seems only rational and good business sense for the council to approach the next meeting with reports rendered from these volunteered professionals. This would give the council the necessary tools to make an educated decision that could save the taxpayers thousands of dollars and most important avoiding needless demolition of a possible, perfectly good structure; and with all due respect to Mr. Luna, the citys Recreational Supervision, he is not a General Contractor or qualified to make any ruling on the Prince Field Structure. (*Tax money: city, county or state it all comes from our pocket)
Because of the absence of qualified inspections and reports afforded to council prior to voting to demolition the structure, residents question whether council might have voted differently on the subject matter; and subsequently seeking quotes on different architectural changes that would save, up-date the structure, as well as creating ADA Access, and for pennies on the dollar versus the cost of demolish and replacing. Therefore, In an effort to satisfy the needs and interest of all those concerned and to achieve mutual gains, I respectfully request access to the Prince Field Playground be given to the two gentlemen that have volunteered to inspect the playground structure pro bono for safety and structure. These gentlemen request access a minimum of 2 weeks prior to the next meeting that Council discusses any status of the structure or put it as an Agenda Item. . (*Tax money: city, county or state it all comes from taxpayers pockets)
cc: residents
FEEDBACK ON FACEBOOK:
Liz Orr Behrens As a member of the board that planned and built this amazing community playground I am so disappointed. There has never been a project in Miami Springs that was planned, purchased and built by local volunteer residents and businesses that compares to that playground. The City`s only cost was to maintain it. Shame on you for falling short on your part of the deal.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 36 · December 16, 2015 at 5:13pm
Jessica Camacho Def sad. I helped build it back in high school
Unlike · Reply · Message · 4 · December 16, 2015 at 11:45pm
Jorge Filgueira I belleve, as a community, we should all get involve and put a pettion together sign by all interested parties, to present to the City Council that we would not like the playground to be torn down but to be repair. My family and I were volunteers who help build it and my children were little, there is a tile above the swing set with my daughter`s hand print and we have our name on the fence. Now my children are all ground up and don`t use the playground but I would like for future generations to be able to enjoy it.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 14 · December 16, 2015 at 5:30pm · Edited
Suzanne Medina I agree
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 16, 2015 at 10:47pm
Debra Robertson This is totally ridiculous. Who makes these decisions? Marie mascaro hit it on the nail! What has/is happening to our city? My family also helped build the park. Do we, the citizens of Miami Springs no longer have any say in what goes on ? Seems not. Such a terrible shame.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 7 · December 16, 2015 at 6:40pm
Marie Mascaro Another step backward. Why wasn`t regular maintenance done? First the Fire Dept., then the Water and Sewer Dept., then the Landscaping Dept, then the police pension, then the pool and now the Tot Lot. Did I miss anything? Progress is not spelled Regress.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 14 · December 16, 2015 at 4:36pm
Terri Ann White-Dulbs Well said Marie
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 16, 2015 at 6:20pm
Suzanne Medina the city is spending around 6 mil to get a new pool but can not keep up with a park? What is going on in Miami Springs .
Unlike · Reply · Message · 10 · December 16, 2015 at 5:05pm
Shari Spina Bermudez And I was just thinking of how the weather is starting to get nice again and we can walk there to play on the weekends. So glad we have a say of where our tax money goes to. It is not appropriate to just say one day that the park is closed without giving residents fair warning and without providing details of what the new park will be (cost, timeline, renderings,etc)!
Unlike · Reply · Message · 3 · December 16, 2015 at 9:14pm
Joanna Lorenzo The swing set had wooden tiles on the upper beam with kids names on it. My friend had his name on it and his siblings as well from when they were kids and the park was built. Any idea what will happen to those? Just curious as to what will be done with that. Thinking of it from a keepsake point of view.
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Unlike · Reply · Message · 5 · December 16, 2015 at 3:46pm
Karen Borras-Banks I agree, a lot of families sponsored the park in order to get it done back in the day and the fence has those names on it… Would be nice to know we can get those a memoir of our childhood.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 4 · December 16, 2015 at 3:52pm
Maxie Magnole Back when the play ground was redone my kids were little they have their hand print above the swing set and we have a slat in the fence with our families name on it. Does not make sense to tear down something that the community built with our hands and hard work. Repair it instead of tearing down. Would cost less money. If being tore down how would we get my kids hand prints and the slat?
Unlike · Reply · Message · 7 · December 16, 2015 at 4:10pm
Maxie Magnole I don`t think they should tear it down & build some other play ground. That one there has great memories of the community coming together to build it from the ground. If they want do another let`s build it. And refurbish the old one. Not tear it down. That park means a lot to the community that built it. Keep the playground
Unlike · Reply · Message · 4 · December 16, 2015 at 8:24pm
Karla Mats Both of my small children love this park. I agree that it`s uniqueness is what makes it so special. My son calls it “castle playground” and we have always thought it was the best playground compared to all the other cookie cutter types. We are new to this community but also feel disappointed by this decision.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 2:11am
Miyani Esquenazi That is truly a shame my kids and I have enjoyed so many days having fun and hearing the laughter of all. It`s a unique park and it`s a shame to know my kids will no longer be able to pretend to be a night slaying a dragon or a princess stuck in the tower waiting for her hero. It`s a park like no other and I hope what it is replaced with a playground that will also stimulate the same imaginations that this park did .
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 18, 2015 at 2:12pm
Renate Manns As with EVERY community park, it should have been maintained. It is disgraceful to demolish a playground that holds so many memories and feelings for so many members of our community. We`ve only been here 5 years,but my kids love the playground. Next thing you know they`ll tear down the gazebo in the cirle! Anyone know if there are plans for a new playground, or nothing?
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 17, 2015 at 8:41am
Yesenia Ruiz All my family kids used to play there, we have lived in Miami Spring for 20 years, and we feel this park as a part of our experienses, because it is UNIQUE, and that made it special, a Simbol that represent to Miami Sprint City. We have a lot of memori…See More
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 12:01am
Mardell Steffen That is sad news to those of us who`s children played on that field so many years ago and found that sports was part of growing up! The amazing coaches and kids advocates were in so many ways responsible for many young boys and girls growing up to bec…See More
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 8:14pm
Yvonne Cervantes Dowling Will just the tot lot be closed or the whole park? If the whole park I would like to have my posts Yvonne & Marty also Marla & Michele
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 16, 2015 at 4:58pm
Sayuri Tsukahara Ross Whaaat?? Are they repairing it or just closing it??
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 4:43pm
Ddee Springs I have videos of my little one playing there when she was just 2 years old…
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This is sad.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 16, 2015 at 11:36pm
Robert Castellanos That sucks safety it was awesome did not see nothing wrong Melanie Alicea
Unlike · Reply · Message · 4 · December 16, 2015 at 3:57pm
Jessica Guerra-Rios This playground is one of a kind. Should definitely repair it. Please do not replace it with a generic playground.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 3 · December 16, 2015 at 5:58pm
Danny Regalado When was this decided? What are the issues?
Unlike · Reply · Message · 3 · December 16, 2015 at 4:10pm
Goly Sami I live right in front of the park and I didn`t know till I got home Tuesday and had a letter at my door!!! “…closing indefinitely…”
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 17, 2015 at 6:07pm
Danny Regalado Did something happen for such sudden action?
Like · Reply · Message · December 18, 2015 at 7:45am
Goly Sami No, my husband called the mayor and there were no reported incidents
unsure emoticon
Like · Reply · Message · December 18, 2015 at 8:10am
Charles H. Postel Looks dangerous to me.pretty Safety concerns, Huh.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 3:36pm
Todd Stiff My daughter spoke to the recreation director today. He told her that the picket fence is staying as is the swing set with the art.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 17, 2015 at 11:35am
Justin Giraldez Good.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 12:47pm
Kahnee June Rodriguez There is a broken slide. If you have been to the park, there are kids too old that go in and wreck havoc on the slides, swings, you name it. Yes… I`m the psycho mom that yells at those kids who climb UP the slides and/or get up on things they are not supposed to. But I am not sure but it appears that a slide is broke beyond recognition so my gut tells me it could`ve been some of the older kids horse playing around
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 16, 2015 at 7:26pm
Maritza Montoya Will people at least be able to go get their name…
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 16, 2015 at 5:16pm
Stella Cogno Why indefinitely? How could there not be a plan in place?
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 2:12pm · Edited
Grazy Fz I am really disapointed since one of the reasons we got a house there was to be across the park. Now what? No details, time frame? It was a beautiful park
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 11:29pm
Tammi Curtis Carr My kids look forward to going to that park every time we visit my parents. They tell their friends in michigan about that park. Seemed safe to me???
Unlike · Reply · Message · 6 · December 16, 2015 at 5:18pm
Christy Rettig Llaneras This is disgraceful! Numerous families fought to get this built for the children of Miami springs! If it is no longer safe then tell us why wasn`t the upkeep kept current? If it was then it should not have to be replaced!
Unlike · Reply · Message · 9 · December 16, 2015 at 4:10pm
Maxie Magnole This is the stupidest thing Springs has thought of. Have another Let Build It with the community to make the repairs not tear it down.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 12:05pm
Jessica Camacho Zavier Garcia thought you might be interested on how the people feel about the park. I helped build this park also. do you know what the plan is?
Unlike · Reply · Message · 5 · December 16, 2015 at 11:48pm
Christopher Marlowe What safety concerns? I`m all about safety but what was the issue? Reasonable to ask for that and a timeline for replacement.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 4 · December 16, 2015 at 4:00pm
1 Reply
Kahnee June Rodriguez Hopefully if they do build a new park, you don`t need to buy a bracelet from the rec center first….
Unlike · Reply · Message · 4 · December 16, 2015 at 7:27pm
1 Reply
Bryan Alexander Lowe Safety issues??? What, did the tots get lost or something?
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 4:21pm
Bob Shultz The city talked about leaving the fence up with all of the names on it and just replacing the inner pcs the kids go on. was that mentioned ?
Unlike · Reply · Message · 4 · December 16, 2015 at 4:07pm
Anacely Labrada My granddaughter lives across the street and every Sunday we would take her.iam do disappointed. It`s as beautiful park.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 2 · December 16, 2015 at 6:24pm
Eulalia Serpa Rodriguez Nieves Serpa the kids loved it
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 9:53pm
Kimberly Caudle White Now what are the kids going to do with their spare time & days off. First the pool now the playground…smh
Unlike · Reply · Message · 3 · December 16, 2015 at 4:00pm
Maria R Perez I grew up playing there. Shame
Unlike · Reply · Message · 3 · December 16, 2015 at 5:27pm
Juan Saborido Another Fail for our community.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 3:00pm
Aimee Hernandez That is a damn shame.
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 10:37pm
Rush Sounds Very Disappointing
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 11:38pm
Grant Fishing What?? Safety concerns? I smell a rat..
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 1:07am
Juana Fulana NOOOOOO!!!!!
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 3:28pm
Belkis Alfonso Sad
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 5:06pm
Dario Navarro Im not sure what the specific safety concerns are but I will say this much… its made mostly of wood. Wood rots, deteriorates amd is expensive to maintain in the long term. Even with proper maintenance it won`t last forever. I do believe that if the p…See More
Like · Reply · Message · 3 · December 16, 2015 at 8:22pm
Nicolle Maree Rodriguez There are other parks and pkay grounds in Miami Springs and Virginia Gardens.
Like · Reply · Message · 2 · December 16, 2015 at 6:01pm
Juan Saborido And none of them compares to Prince Field.
Like · Reply · Message · December 17, 2015 at 2:59pm
Lynn Pelley-castellanos Oh no! Robert Castellanos
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 3:36pm
Dawn Fitzpatrick Interesting. Probably a good move since I had to take my son to the doctor to
a very deep splinter. We
d several others on our own, but one had to be dug out. Needs a complete remodel.
Like · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 8:35pm
Ivette Yadira Ramos Jorge Ramos ☹
Unlike · Reply · 1 · December 18, 2015 at 10:47am
Blanca Concepcion Raul Cuervo
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 8:42pm
Raul Cuervo That sucks, Annabelle really liked it. Hopefully they`re just remodeling
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 8:47pm
Shelley Streitmatter Marlowe Christopher Marlowe
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 3:35pm
Jeannette Barrera-Riveron Christy Christy
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 7:15pm
Ena Thieme Miller Mantovanelli
Unlike · Reply · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 5:31pm
Alex Pino Yeni Llovet
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 16, 2015 at 5:20pm
Christy Rettig Llaneras Wonder if anyone on the council will actually tell us the truth? Why can`t we have it repaired? Why the hell wasn`t it maintained?? Who decided that we rip it down?
Like · Reply · Message · December 17, 2015 at 6:27pm
Aimee Bedenbaugh Is this where the feces was? Denise Bedenbaugh
Like · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 6:00pm
Nieves Serpa Eulalia Serpa Rodriguez we were just there this weekend for a little. I wonder what happened.
Like · Reply · Message · December 17, 2015 at 2:37pm
Eulalia Serpa Rodriguez I haven`t been there for awhile now…So sad
Unlike · Reply · Message · 1 · December 17, 2015 at 3:15pm
Lazaro Martinez Wow how sad.
Like · Reply · Message · December 17, 2015 at 6:27pm
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