LTC 215-2010 Parks & Recreation Department~:
m MIAMIBEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 215-2010
LETTER TO COMMISSION
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. TO: Mayor Matti Herrera Bower and Members of the City Co ..mission ~
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-FROM: Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager - ~ c~o`x
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DATE: July 29, 2010 ~; ~
SUBJECT: Parks and Recreation Department Managed Fields Practices
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The purpose of this LTC is to respond to the various emails you may have recently recei ed
from residents expressing concerns about the use of park fields to play soccer, and more
specifically, to address correspondence received by your offices .regarding a recent
occurrence where city staff asked users to leave the fields they were playing on. The
resident's email explained a situation where adults, children and families were requested to
vacate North Shore Park field while they were having a friendly pick-up game.
Upon receipt of the complaint, Parks and Recreation Administration along with on-site parks
and recreation staff at North. Shore Park investigated the incident. It was determined that the
game was halted as adults had started. an organized soccer game, set up goal posts on the
field, without receiving a permit or rental authorization: This group of adults had previously
been asked to leave the field on prior occasions and was always given alternative sites that
the City allows for unregulated play. The players had. acknowledged that they were playing
on a field that needs authorization prior to play and left when asked to do so.
As a standard practice, North Shore Park, Flamingo Park, Normandy Park and Fairway Park
require a permit and rental agreement for field use and there is signage displayed at each
field advising potential users accordingly. The rental agreement guarantees the-user the
right to use the field for their own use, in some cases using city property such as goal posts,
. =and .lining of fields for out of bounds lines, hash marks, etc. These fields are also used for
the City's athletics programs, both intramural and traveling teams..When unauthorized use
of these fields for organized -play is identified, the users are politely requested by staff to
please vacate the field, and users are also provided with other city field alternatives for them
to play on. These alternatives include parks such as Polo, Crespi, Tatum and Stillwater that
do not require a rental permit for organized play.
Organized play'is not necessarily defined solely as a league, but rather, includes groups of
20 or more users that play on a regular basis. If a group wants to restrict the field for their
own use, they must rent and obtain a permit. A few children or a parent and a few children
kicking a ball, playing catch or hitting on the baseball fields is not considered organized play
and are allowed to play at North Shore Park, Flamingo Park, Normandy Park and Fairway
Park.
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In addition to the open use fields at Polo, Crespi, Tatum and Stillwater, the Parks and
Recreation Department also instituted an "open play" period which permits open and free
..play (soccer; flag football. etc.) on managed fields, including Fairway Park on Friday nights
and at Normandy Park on Sunday's. The "open play" period allows the field to be used, on a
first come, first served basis; however, it must remain open to the entire resident population
'and not.restricted to any one group. The "open play" period has proven to be very popular
and widely used.
The purpose of managed play and rental permits at North Shore Park, flamingo Park,
Normandy Park and Fairway Park is to ensure the fields are well-maintained and are in safe
condition for children and adults toplay on. The Parks and Recreation Department has
found a workable balance by permitting rentals, managing unorganized play, scheduling city-
- organized programs and having scheduled open play. This balance reduces the on-going
need for intense maintenance, including the replacementof worn sod and closing the fields
. for extended periods for restoration as well as the cost of the rehabilitation.
Past history has proven that uncontrolled use of any single field will cause rapid deterioration
of the playing surface resulting in the extensive loss of the sod, ruts, holes and exposed dirt
areas. If unregulated play is permitted, by anyone, at anytime, ourfields become extensively
damaged,.. unsafe to use and very expensive to constantly rehabilitate. .s
. The Parks and Recreation Department strives to respond to most resident field use
concerns immediately. The Commission and Administration have also received emails from..
groups that do rent our fields for organized soccer play stating that the fields are not always
in good condition. To address these concerns, field use by these groups is rotated.
Itshould be noted that the requests and need for additional playing field space continues to
increase as our demographics change. At this time, the demand for fields exceeds our
available resources. We anticipate that one of the solutions to assist us in this challenge is
the artificial. turf included and approved for the Memorial Field in the Flamingo Park BODR.
This field will not address all the demands for field' access but it will permit far greater use of
the field without the need for extended maintenance and closures for rehabilitation.
Please advise. if you have additional questions, comments or concerns.
JMG/ ,J~/HF/KS/JM
F:\rcpa\$ALL\Previous\KEVIN\Parks and Recreation Department Managed Fields Practices - LTC.doc
c: 'Hilda Fernandez, Assistant City Manager
. Jorge Gomez, Assistant City Manager .
Kevin Smith, Parks & Recreation Director
•Julio Magrisso, Assistant Parks & Recreation Director
.Field Value
Email
merky211@aol.com
Address
Name Jean Campos .
Subject Parks and Recreation
Dear Commisioner, My name is-Jean Campos, and I have lived in Miami
Beach for many years. Today I was a bit disappointed in a situation
that occurred at our Miami Beach park where families, friends, and
local kids come to play in the field and enjoy their summer
vacation. While at North Shore Park Youth Center located at 531 72nd
st at about 7p.m a city worker came on the field with a pick-up
truck to kick off all the people who were playing soccer. We were
told that because it was an organized event we can not play on the
field. To my knowledge my family, and a group of local kids playing
a soccer game is not an organized event: I do not know what the law
is on this situation, but I thought this was a public park. Was it
because we were playing soccer? Because I know that other. people
play softball, or even basketball at public parks whether in Tatum
park, Flamingo Park, or Fairway Park, and those are also organized
Message by friends who just want to come out and play. What I think is
ironic is that July is "Parks and Recreation Month" and yet we were
not allowed to play in our park.. The city of miami beach's mission
statement says We are commited to .providing excellent public
service and safety to all who live, work, and play in our vibrant,
tropical, and historical community". All the families that come to
the parks, and the kids that are kept off the streets want to play
and be active; and they cannot. I was speaking to the other
families who were also kicked off the field, and they were very
upset. I think this needs to be brought to your attention. I want to
keep the families, and friends who want to play with there kids, and
who also keep the local kids off the streets and doing something
positive like playing sports in our public parks. I really
appreciate your time and you can a-mail me back with any questions
or concerns, or answers to this situation.-Thank you,