The City of Miami Beach will hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. to mark the start of construction on the planned $42.8 million Bayshore Park (just south of 2530 Pine Tree Drive), which will feature a passive park, playground, an outdoor amphitheater and six lighted multipurpose tennis and pickleball courts.

“We continue our march to create the most beautiful and unique open spaces in the world. What has been a barren lot for years, will now became a center of community activity to be enjoyed by all,” said Mayor Dan Gelber.

Partially funded by the 2018 voter-approved General Obligation Bond, the new park will also include a dog park named after the late former Miami Beach Commissioner Jorge Exposito, jogging trail, pathways, boardwalk, pavilion, Vita Course and fitness cluster, butterfly garden as well as a linear water feature.

“Bayshore Park will be an incredible new gathering place for our residents and visitors to enjoy with their families while also being a model of sustainability and environmental stewardship,” added Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez.

Resiliency improvements planned for the project include a central lake with circulation and an ozone water treatment system along with a lake overlook and stormwater infrastructure to collect and retain a portion of the stormwater runoff from the surrounding area.

Located on the site of a former par 3 golf course, Bayshore Park will be equipped with a motion-activated lighting system and security cameras. The project includes the replacement of existing water and sewer lines and the construction of an off-street parking lot.

Bayshore Park is slated to be completed by fall 2025.

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The City of Miami Beach Environment & Sustainability Department invites volunteers who participate in this year’s International Coastal Cleanup Miami-Dade event to cool down with a refreshing bubly™ sparkling water and some light snacks at the Coastal Cleanup After-party.

The After-Party takes place immediately following the cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 16 at 11 a.m. in the Radisson Miami Beach Backyard at 4343 Collins Avenue. The complimentary bubly™ sparkling water will be provided courtesy of PepsiCo Beverages North America, which recently entered a 10-year plastic-free contract with Miami Beach.

“We wanted to do something to recognize the volunteers who give up part of their weekend to help keep our beaches pristine,” explained Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak. “I also want to thank PepsiCo Beverages North America and our local sponsors for their generous contributions that make this Cleanup After-party possible.”

There’s still time to sign up for the International Coastal Cleanup, which is the world’s largest, one-day volunteer effort to reduce marine debris with millions of worldwide participants.

Spearheaded globally by the Ocean Conservancy, VolunteerCleanup.org organizes Miami-Dade’s local participation in the annual event with more than 50 simultaneous shoreline cleanups throughout Miami-Dade County.

Organizers will provide garbage bags, gloves, data collection cards and a souvenir tote bag that reflects this year’s seahorse marine animal theme.

To register for the International Coastal Cleanup Miami-Dade, please visit tinyurl.com/MBCoastalCleanup.

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La Ciudad de Miami Beach se ha asociado con La Liga Contra El Cáncer y H3: health.hope.healing para ofrecer mamografías gratuitas a mujeres sin seguro de salud el viernes 20 de octubre, de 8 a.m. a 4 p.m., cuando el autobús de mamografías estará en el estacionamiento de la Biblioteca de North Shore Branch, ubicada en 7501 Collins Ave.

“El cáncer de mama ya no tiene que ser una sentencia de muerte, pero el pronóstico de recuperación es mucho mejor cuando la enfermedad se detecta temprano”, explicó el Comisionado de Miami Beach, Alex Fernández. “Le debemos a las mujeres en nuestras vidas asegurarnos de que la detección temprana esté disponible en nuestra comunidad para todas las mujeres, sin importar si tienen seguro de salud”.

Es necesario programar una cita para recibir una mamografía. Estas citas están disponibles para mujeres de bajos ingresos entre las edades de 40 a 60 años que no tienen seguro de salud y no tienen implantes mamarios. Para registrarse para una cita, llame al 786.353.1944.

“Nuestro compromiso de proporcionar mamografías gratuitas refleja nuestra dedicación inquebrantable a garantizar que la atención médica sea un derecho, no un privilegio”, dijo Fernández. “Unámonos para apoyar a esas mujeres que de otra manera podrían ser pasadas por alto y no detectadas”.

Octubre es el Mes de Concienciación sobre el Cáncer de Mama, y la Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos de los Estados Unidos informa que una de cada ocho mujeres en los Estados Unidos desarrollará cáncer de mama durante su vida. Según la agencia, más de 40,000 mujeres mueren de cáncer de mama cada año.

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The City of Miami Beach has partnered with Liga Contra El Cancer and H3: health.hope.healing to offer free mammograms to women without health insurance on Friday, Oct. 20 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. when the mammogram bus rolls into the North Shore Branch Library parking lot at 7501 Collins Ave.

“Breast cancer no longer has to be a death sentence, but the recovery prognosis is much greater when the disease is caught early,” explained Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez. “We owe it to the women in our lives to make sure early detection is available in our community to every woman regardless of whether they have health insurance.”

Appointments are required to receive a mammogram. They are open to low-income women between the ages of 40 to 60 who do not have health insurance and do not have breast implants. To register for an appointment, call 786.353.1944.

“Our commitment to providing free mammograms reflects our unwavering dedication to ensuring that healthcare is a right, not a privilege,” Fernandez said. “Let us stand together to support those women who may otherwise be overlooked and undetected.”

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration reports that one out of eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. More than 40,000 women die from breast cancer each year, according to the agency.

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The City of Miami Beach Procurement Department has been awarded the Quality Public Procurement Department accreditation by the National Institute for Governmental Procurement (NIGP) — the largest public procurement organization in the United States and Canada.

“We are very proud that our procurement department has been able to achieve this rigorous accreditation,” said Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak. “Only 5% of the 3,000 government agencies that are members of NIGP have earned this honor.”

The NIGP accreditation, which recognizes excellence in public procurement, is awarded to public procurement departments that have demonstrated their operations, practices and abilities are consistent with established best practices and standards.

NIGP was formed during World War II — largely through the efforts of then-New York City Mayor and U.S. Conference of Mayors President Fiorello LaGuardia — to elevate the purchasing profession, accelerate performance and make a positive difference in communities throughout the world.

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First responders from the City of Miami Beach Fire and Police Departments will hold a joint observance on Monday, Sept. 11, 2023 to honor the memory of the 2,977 victims who died during the 9/11 terror attacks more than two decades ago.

“This day reminds us that there will always be those who threaten to take away our freedoms, but that we must come together as Americans to reject tyranny and stand for freedom,” Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak said.

The Miami Beach ceremony will begin at 8:30 a.m. outside Fire Station 2. A moment of silence will be observed at 8:46 a.m. as first responders lower the American flag to half-staff.

Visitors and guests are asked to assemble behind the circle of first responders.

The total number of victims includes the first responders who died while attempting to assist other victims but does not include the 19 terrorists killed while perpetrating the attacks that began with four hijacked airliners on Sept. 11, 2001.

Two aircraft were flown into the towers of the World Trade Center in New York City while another was flown into the Pentagon. The remaining aircraft crashed into a Pennsylvania field when passengers bravely resisted their attackers.

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What: City of Miami Beach Joint 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony

When: Monday, Sept. 11 at 8:30 a.m.

Where: Fire Station 2 at 2300 Pine Tree Drive, Miami Beach

Join the City of Miami Beach on Thursday, Aug. 31 at 10 a.m. in the New World Center for the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Wayne A. Jones, who will become the city’s 21^st Miami Beach Police Chief.

Chief Jones has been with the Miami Beach Police Department since 1996 and has held every rank, including patrol officer, detective, sergeant, lieutenant, captain, major, and, most recently, deputy chief for the past four years. His promotion makes him the city’s first Black police chief.

Over the past 27 years, Jones has been an integral part of the department’s growth. He created the human trafficking unit, which went on to lead Miami-Dade County in investigations and arrests for sex trafficking offenses. As a sergeant in community affairs, he developed the structure of what would later become the nationally recognized Homeless Resource Officer Program. In addition, Jones implemented new recruitment strategies to boost the number of female police officers from 12% to 18% of all new hires.

Jones obtained his undergraduate degree in political science and public administration from Florida Memorial University and his master’s in public administration from Florida International University. He completed the FBI’s Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar and the Police Executive Research Forum’s Senior Management Institute for Police program.

An aviation enthusiast and licensed pilot, he also holds an associate degree from Miami Dade College in professional piloting and technology.

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WHAT:            Miami Beach Police Chief Swearing-In Ceremony

WHEN:            Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023 at 10 a.m. (Doors open at 9 a.m.)

WHERE:         500 17 Street (New World Center)

The Miami Beach Public Works Department has earned reaccreditation through the American Public Works Association following a two-day comprehensive assessment of its management practices by a team of impartial industry experts.

“Miami Beach residents are fortunate to have a Public Works Department that meets the highest standards of excellence anywhere in the United States and Canada,” Miami Beach City Manager Alina T. Hudak shared.

The on-site audit, which was conducted on Aug. 15-16, included a thorough evaluation of department operations, policies and preemptive measures with a focus on nearly 500 best practice guidelines established by the Missouri-based American Public Works Association.

The four-year accreditation covers key services like stormwater and flood management, risk and emergency protocols, right-of-way practices, street cleaning and recycling methods, landscaping operations, planning and development, communications disciplines and wastewater conveyance among others.

“The Miami Beach Public Works Department was found to be in 100% compliance with the accreditation standards,” Hudak added. “We are very proud to have received what is essentially a perfect score.”

Miami Beach became the first South Florida municipality to obtain accreditation in 2007 and is one of only 194 municipalities in North America that currently hold accreditation through the organization, which has 30,000 members around the world.

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As temperatures continue to set record highs this summer, the City of Miami Beach invites residents and visitors to stop by any of the three air-conditioned library branches in Miami Beach for a complimentary bottle of Proud Source Water every day the National Weather Service issues an Excessive Heat Warning for Miami-Dade County.

Residents and visitors can enjoy these cooling sites and one aluminum, reusable bottle of Proud Source courtesy of PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), which recently entered a 10-year plastic-free pouring rights contract with the city.

“These unprecedented temperatures that we’ve been experiencing can result in illness or death, particularly in our most vulnerable populations,” explained Miami Beach Commissioner Alex Fernandez. “We want to thank PBNA and Proud Source as well as the Miami-Dade Public Library System for helping our many residents and visitors stay cool with this thoughtful gesture.”

Medical experts advise people to stay hydrated on hot days by drinking water and avoiding caffeine and alcohol while spending time in air-conditioned spaces and avoiding direct exposure to the sun when possible. They also suggest people limit physical activity and take breaks in the shade while scheduling outdoor activities in the morning or evening hours. Infants, children and pets should never be left in parked vehicles.

Participating Miami-Dade Public Library System locations include:

• North Shore Branch Library | 7501 Collins Ave.; Telephone: 305.864.5392
• Miami Beach Regional Library | 227 22 Street; Telephone: 305.535.4219
• South Shore Branch Library | 131 Alton Road; Telephone: 305.535.4223

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The Miami Beach Convention Center renovation and expansion project has been named one of five finalists for the Urban Land Institute’s (ULI) Florida/Caribbean 2023 Project of the Year Award. The winner will be announced at the 2023 Vision Awards event on Nov. 28 in the JW Marriott Marquis, Miami.

“The Miami Beach Convention Center’s extensive renovation and expansion has revitalized the dated property into a first-class venue that celebrates its position as the civic and cultural heart of Miami Beach and drastically improves the experience for residents and convention attendees alike,” shared Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber. “We are grateful to ULI for this recognition.”

The ULI awards recognize excellence in the land use and real estate development space by honoring leaders and projects that elevate the standards of the industry and exemplify ULI’s commitment to responsibility while improving communities.

The Silver LEED-certified project transformed the Convention Center’s relationship with its surroundings, creating 12 acres of new green space and revitalizing the Collins Canal pedestrian walkway.

Welcoming more than 600,000 visitors annually, the center is also home to $10.2 million in public art acquired by the City of Miami Beach.

The project sought to transform the Miami Beach Convention Center into a resilient hub while addressing rising sea levels that threaten the region.

To create a welcoming outdoor space, the project replaced 6 acres of surface parking lot with a lush tropical park, which features a tropical garden, game lawn, shaded areas and a veteran’s plaza that highlights Miami Beach’s role in World War II. By adding 12 acres of total green space, the design increased the pervious acreage of the 25-acre campus by 245% and significantly reduced the heat island effect.

The City of Miami Beach project team included Fentress Architects, Arquitectonica, West 8, Wallace Engineering, ME Engineers, Kimley-Horn, Clark Construction and Hill International.

The other four finalists for the 2023 ULI award are Link at Douglas, Phase 1, Mosaico, Oasis Wynwood and The Plaza Coral Gables.

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