LTC 460-2020 CONSTRUCTION ON FINAL SEGMENT OF BEACHWALK THROUGH NORTH BEACH OCEANSIDE PARKMIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
LTC#
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
SUBJECT:
LETTER TO COMMISSION
Mayor Dan Gelber and Members of the City Com,rission
Raul Aguila, Interim City Manage* M \ C'b :r-
December 17, 2020
CONSTRUCTION ON FINAL SEGMENT OF BEACHWALK THROUGH
NORTH BEACH OCEANSIDE PARK
The purpose of this L TC is to notify you that construction is set to begin in early 2021 onthe final segment of the Beachwalk. The Beachwalk project runs along the eastern edgeof North Beach Oceanside Park from 79th Street to 87th Street. The Beachwalk project isestimated to be completed in spring 2022. With the completion of this portion of theBeachwalk, there will now be more than seven miles of oceanfront promenade thatconnect the entire city from South Beach through North Beach.
The City's Beachwalk system is part of the larger East Coast Greenway, a walking andbiking route stretching over 3,000 miles from Maine to Key West. This system ofpedestrian and bikeways promotes alternative transportation and connects thecommunity to parks, cultural institutions, and business centers. This project is the finallink in the Miami Beach portion of the East Coast Greenway. The final project includes a25-foot-wide, on-grade paver pathway, turtle-friendly lighting, and salt-tolerant vegetation.
At the request of the community the project has been designed to preserve, protect, andenhance the existing tree canopy. The health and condition of all existing trees and palmsalong the future Beachwalk corridor were evaluated by a certified arborist to inform thedesign. During construction, out of the 3,400 existing trees and palms in the larger park,183 palms and 82 trees that are in conflict with construction or in poor condition will beremoved as part of the Beachwalk project. Stringent tree preservation measures will betaken to protect the remaining canopy trees identified to be in good condition. In order tomitigate the canopy loss, the project will include the planting of 433 native and Floridafriendly canopy trees that have been selected for their hardiness in marine environmentand their environmental benefits. As per the Urban Forestry Master Plan, this project willdiversify the tree canopy and includes salt-tolerant canopy trees most appropriate forbeachfront areas. The additional 433 trees include Gumbo Limbo, Pigeon Plum, GreenButtonwood, Silver Buttonwood and Brazilian Beautyleaf. Trees that are either beingremoved or relocated will be identified and tagged for a minimum of 30 days.
If you� questions, please reach out to David Martinez at 305-673-7071.
JLM/ vr/�/DG/ESW /OJ L
460-2020
M IA M I BEACH
City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.miamibeachfl.gov
OFFICE OF MA RKETING & COMMUNICATIONS, Tel: 305.673.7575
Tonya Daniels, E-mail: tonyadaniels@miamibeachfl.gov
Melissa Berthier, E-mail: melissaberthier@miamibeachfl.gov
PRESS RELEASE
F O R IM M E D IA T E R E L E A S E
Dec. 17, 2020
C o n s truc tio n S et to B eg in o n Final S eg m ent of B ea c hw alk
Once completed in spring of 2022, residents and visitors will be able to travel from
South Beach to North Beach along a spectacular oceanfront promenade
M ia m i B e a c h , F L - Construction is set to begin in early 2021 on the final segment of the
Beachwalk, a more than 7-mile oceanfront promenade that will span the entire length of the city
from South Beach through North Beach.
"Many of us in this city have had a lifelong dream of being able to enjoy sweeping views of the
ocean as we jog, walk or ride a bicycle from one end of Miami Beach to the other," form er
Miami Beach City Manager Jimmy Morales explained. "The Beachwalk is the fruition of that
dream."
The health and condition of all existing trees and palms along the planned construction route
were evaluated by a certified arborist. A total of 265 trees - including 183 palms that are in
conflict with construction or in poor condition- will be removed as part of the project, but that
loss will be more than offset by the addition of 433 new native and Florida-friendly canopy trees
that have been selected for their hardiness in marine environments and their environmental
benefits.
When complete in spring 2022, the Beachwalk will run from South Pointe Park in South Beach
through Lummus Park and continue north before ending in North Beach Oceanside Park. The
unfinished segment is located between 79 and 87 streets.
The city's Beachwalk system is part of the larger East Coast Greenway, a walking and biking
route stretching over 3,000 miles from Maine to Key West. This system of pedestrian and
bikeways promotes alternative transportation and connects the community to parks, cultural
institutions and business centers. This project is the final link in the Miami Beach portion of the
East Coast Greenway. The final segment includes a 25-foot-wide, on-grade paver pathway,
turtle-friendly lighting and salt-tolerant vegetation
The city's recently adopted Urban Forestry Master Plan recommends diversifying the city's tree
canopy with salt-tolerant canopy trees most appropriate for beachfront areas. New trees in the
planned Beachwalk area include Gumbo Limbo, Pigeon Plum, Green Buttonwood, Silver
Buttonwood and Brazilian Beautyleaf. Trees that are either being removed or relocated will be
identified and tagged for a minimum of 30 days.
To request this material in alternate format, sign language interpreter (five day notice required), information on access for persons with disabilities, and/ or any accommoda tion to rview any document or partiapat e in
any aty sponsored proceedings, call 305.604.2489 and slet 1 for English or 2 for Spanish, then option 6; TTY users may call via 711 (Florida Relay Serie).
We are committed to providing excellent public service and safety to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community