LTC 461-2020 (Revised) 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.
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461-2020