Virginia Key Beach Park Trust
Operations – State of the Park
Historic Virginia Key Beach Park will soon surpass the original number of picnic tables and outdoor grills that once graced the property. To date, a total of 86 picnic tables (8 with handicap access) and 30 barbecue grills are installed with more on the way. Picnickers can also look forward to escaping the hot sun when two large awnings rise over existing slab foundations in the northern end of the beach park. As soon as water current studies are complete, a system of offshore buoy lines will be implemented to re-instate of public swimming at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. The floating boundaries would enable City of Miami lifeguards to properly enforce safe swimming as well as restrict power boating.
Shoreline restoration of depleted beach sand and additional shade tree plantings are ongoing. The new nature boardwalk is now open for visitors to explore wetland regions, as is too, the old-time Concession Stand which doles out seaside treats seven days a week. Youngsters can experience our brand new barrier-free play area complete with sandbox and a boundless playground made possible by a grant from the Miami-Dade Children's Trust.
Finally, take time to snap a picture in front of the soon-to-be, re-commissioned 'Biscayne Virginia Rickenbacker Central' miniature railroad presently awaiting final permits for the laying of a track through scenic natural areas.
Parking Lot Improvements – A major transformations is taking place at Historic Virginia Key Beach Park through the steady progression of the historic beach park’s circulation road and parking lot improvement construction project. The projects consist of a storm water drainage system, a 37 acre parking lot that will accommodate more than 450 vehicles, lighting, hundreds of native trees, newly paved circulation roads and a pedestrian walking path.
Historic Virginia Key Beach Park is 82 ˝ acres. When completed, this state-of-the-art parking lot project will have upgraded nearly half of the acreage on the park. The project will make a the beach park more pedestrian friendly, more visually appealing with the addiction to native trees and vegetation and generally more inviting to visitors.
Exotic Vegetation Removal – The second major phase of the beach park’s restoration includes 36 acres that have been targeted for selective exotic vegetation removal. This projects slated to begin in Spring 2007 will positively impact the historic beach park’s natural ecosystems by selectively removing invasive exotic trees and plants from the park’s coastal strand, ponds, wetlands and hardwood hammocks. Exotic vegetation will be identified for removal by consultants, Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) staff and knowledgeable professionals.
The selective clearing will restore lost ecosystem structure and function while providing natural, native beauty to the environment.
Plant Nursery – In conjunction with the removal of exotic vegetation is the construction of a new plant nursery on Historic Virginia Key Beach Park. Using lessons learn by the City of Miami’s Department of Parks and Recreation, the Trust is developing an on-site plant nursery that will provide native species of plants to replace exotics that will be removed. Seedlings gathered from the Virginia Key, Key Biscayne and other local South Florida locations will provide native genetic species to replenish native vegetative growth lost to exotics. Much of the exotic removal, plant nursery construction and native plant care, maintenance and instillation will be done by volunteers.
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