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Dir. Kevin Kirwin Responds

Good morning Benji and thank you for this – we will take a hard look at your requests as we move into the upcoming budget cycle – some things in the list are more feasible that others – such as the playground expansion and fixing the drainage issues. Just to let you know that we have listened to the feedback of groups in your neighborhood such as the Brickell Home Owners Association and the Roads HOA and have started projects to install a new playground at Southside Park and expand the playground at 1814 Brickell Park. Also the City of Miami has committed Park Impact Fee funds to ensure the build out of the Underline is completed. Please let me know if your number is the same and I will give you a call.

Regards,

Kevin M. Kirwin

Director, City of Miami, Parks and Recreation

(305)416-1320

                          www.miamigov.com/parks

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Letter to Mr. Kevin Kirwin, Director of Parks and Recreation, City of Miami

March 31, 2017

  Mr. Kevin Kirwin

Director

Parks and Recreation

City of Miami

  Dear Mr. Kirwin,

 Greetings.

 We are parents and neighbors who regularly use and enjoy Brickell Park and the Playground on Brickell Avenue, between the Icon and First Presbyterian Church of Miami.

 We do enjoy the park and the playground as it is one of the few public spaces that works for kids in the Brickell area. There are afternoons when as much as 40 kids play in the park and there are many mothers with strollers and babies. There are also neighbors walking their dogs.

 This month, we asked kids and parents who were using the park to share their ideas for improving the space.  We’ve collated the drawings, interviews and ideas into a website: https://brickellparkplayground.tumblr.com/.

 Here is a brief list of some of the ideas, listed in no particular order:

 1.         Fix/improve the drainage so we can get rid of the muddy and (often) flooded area near the playground

2.         Put in better lights that light the playground

3.         Put in some swings and slides

4.         Improve the play structures. Add some play structures for smaller children.

5.         Add more benches, especially around the play area, so parents can better watch their kids.

6.         Reduce the noise coming from the exhaust of the Icon.

7.         Put in some fruit trees and flowers.

8.         Put in a fishpond or a water play area. (It would be fun to play with water near the water.)

9.         Put in a basketball hoop or some soccer goals.

10.     Lots more grass, especially around the trees. (It looks like they put ashes around the trees.)

11.     Change the lights around the trees. The current lights are dangerous to kids.

12.     Clean up after the dogs. Set a clear play area for the dogs.

13.     Put in a water fountain.

14.     Put in a rest room.

15.     Put a small library.

 We hope that the City and the Parks and Recreation Department consider these improvements. It will help make Brickell a better place to raise families. It will also provide a good balance to the commercial space and high density housing.

 Thank you for your consideration.

   Respectfully yours,

  Brickell Playground Friends

  Cf:

 Commissioner Ken Russell

District 2

City of Miami

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Kids share some more of their ideas: A fishpond.- Francesca, 11 and Jessica, 12 Also Thanks, too to: Tyler, 12 Camilla, 11

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We were at the playground this afternoon and some kids came up to give their suggestions:

A place to help the animals that live here. Like the frogs. -Gabriel, 10

A slide. Two slides. And swings - Camilla, 9

A bigger playground area. -Damon, 9

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Please tell us:

Brickell Park Playground would be better if…

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Please tell us:

I like Brickell Park Playground because…

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Maggie, 8, wants swings, a slide, a library and fruit trees.

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Joanna, 6, loves the playground. Her mom helped her list down what she wants to see: a swing and a slide and better cleaning up.

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Joanne and the other moms really want the flooded, muddy area fixed.

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Sophia, 10, wants swings.

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Luna, 8, had several suggestions: 1) a fish pond; 2) a bird bath; 3) flowers; 4) fruit trees; and, 5) a tunnel under the water (to Brickell Key).

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Mom, Ralitza, really wants to get the muddy area fixed/drained. And thinks the playground area should have more benches.

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Max, 6, and his mom Joanne had a lot of ideas: 1) Figure out the space for the dogs and the space for the kids

2) Better park lights (specially in the evenings) for the playground area

3) A slide

4) Expand the playground and add more equipment (like bridges, etc.)

5) Replace the “wheel of torture”

6) Basketball hoops

7) Soccer

8) a water fountain

9) a restroom

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Harry, 41, thinks a small soccer field would help. Or maybe just goal posts.

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Felix, 3, wants a lot of grass. And, fun. And an orange.

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Emma, 5, wants a slide. And butterflies and sunshine.

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Clara, 5, wants a slide, too. She also wants a way to climb the trees.