In 1936 it became apparent that the City of Miami water plant in Hialeah was becoming inadequate to soften and purify the water to serve the entire community. The city applied for and was granted a loan from the public works administration to greatly expand the capacity of the plant and also create a sludge byproduct drying area.
A pipe was laid from the sludge tank at the water plant across Okeechobee Road and under the Miami Canal to an area in Miami Springs between Dove and Nightingale Ave. This area now known at the clay pit has been the source of many Miami Springs legends over the years and in December of 2022 was the nightly home of the entire flamboyance of Hialeah flamingos (2nd photo).
Visit the Miami Springs Historical Society and Museum The Miami Springs Historical Society is located at 501 East Drive in Miami Springs.
Miami Springs Historical Society Museum
Address:
501 East Drive
Miami Springs, FL 33166
Directions:
From the Palmetto, exit at NW 36th Street and head East on NW 36th Street. Continue East on NW 36th Street and make a left hand turn (North) on East Drive. Continue North until you reach 501 East Drive.
From I-95, take I-95 to State Road 112 Westbound. Exit State Road 112 at NW 36th Street. Continue west on NW 36th Street until you reach East Drive. Make a right hand turn at East Drive (North). Continue North on East Drive until you reach 501 East Drive.
From Hialeah, take Okeechobee Road until you reach East 4th Avenue. Turn south on East 4th Avenue and cross the bridge into Miami Springs. Take the center lane and continue south onto East Drive. You’ll see Stafford Park on your left hand side and then the entrance to the Museum Parking lot at 501 East Drive.
Map to the Miami Springs Historical Society
Miami Springs Historical Museum Hours
The Museum is open each Saturday (except Christmas & New Years) from 12 Noon to 4 pm.
Entrance is FREE!
Donations are welcome.
This is an extremely elegant description of the wastewater sledge “clay pits”. This is wastewater sledge (feces) and while an impressive engineering project, I’m not sure this is something Miami Springs should be proud of.