HomeMy WebLinkAboutLetter 5Miami Neighborhoods United
January 12, 2006
City of Miami Commissioners
City Hall
Miami, FL
Re: Commission Meeting Agenda Item CA.9
Resolution 05-01498
Bryan Park Tennis Center
Dear Commissioners:
The Parks Committee and Miami 21 Committee of MNU are here to respectfully ask
the Commission to deny the application of the Administration to change the use of
Bryan Park.
First, the City has undertaken to produce a Parks Master Plan as part of the Miami 21
process and the tennis center being presented today subverts the process and
Community input.
Secondly, those who have attended both parks meetings for Shenandoah have heard the
neighbors who attended say that they are vehemently opposed to a tennis center that
will cover every inch of their local park rendering it unusable to them. We have also
heard that Coral Gate -a neighborhood with 9 plus acres of underutilized park space has
asked that this center be located in their neighborhood. We are sure that the Goody
Clancy neighborhood meetings will help produce a solution. The issue is the proper
location of a USTA sponsored facility.
Thirdly, The Shenandoah HOA has been on record for more than one year as opposing
this tennis center in Bryan Park - the only park available within walking distance of the
residents.
The Parks Committee of MNU is philosophically opposed to taking out of service any
local neighborhood park space being actively used as park and open space. In the case
of Bryan Park the local residents would lose their neighborhood park in order to benefit
a special purpose facility to be used by a special interest group, most of whom do not
reside in the neighborhood.
The Miami 21 Committee is of the understanding that proper community input was not
considered during the planning of this project and that delaying the project slightly so as
to include it in the Parks Master Plan would be the correct decision today.
We urge the Commission to avoid this egregious situation and deny the request at this
time.
Sincerely,
Nina West
Parks Committee Chair
Hadley Williams
Miami 21 Committee Chair
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1/12/2006
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From: Judith Sandoval
Date: 1/12/2006 12:09: 38 AM
Subject: MESSAGE FROM STEVE WRIGHT, WHO LIVES ON BRYAN PARK, SHENANDOAH
SAVE BRYAN PARK -- TIME IS RUNNING OUT !!
Friends,
I'm lucky enough to be home at 6 and I'm looking out the doorway of my 1926 (same year Bryan Park's
land was deeded to the city as an open village green) home.
I see some kids about 10 wrestling, playing, falling down on the soft turf. In another area, a good half
dozen teen agers are kicking a soccer ball and exercising on the only multipurpose playfield in the area.
In another spot, a mother is playing catch with her tiny little girl.
Yet another area has some folks in their young 20s working out and enjoying the open space even
though it's nearly dusk. Some of these folks will be around after sundown, because they cherish their
green space so much.
In an hour or so, a bunch of rugby players will use the whole field (and they'll be gone by 9:30 at the
latest -- so as not to disturb the neighbors with their boistrous play. Or maybe tonight is soccer night.
An fine ethnic diversity that should serve as Miami's calling card comes frequently to play
soccer...sometimes two games are going on at once.
Who will speak for this people? Has someone determined that the state only sponsors tennis and if you
don't play the state -approved game, off to the streets with you?
I've attached the latest drawing of the park. It's the worst design yet.
It also contains lies. The southeast comer is indeed green, but it is not a playfield. It's space is already
taken up by tot lots, benches and other nice uses that play in harmony with 3 existing tennis courts and
the open field. By the way, the thre active tennis courts are great. Kept at a reasonable level that only
takes up a portion of the perfect neighborhood park, the program is an asset. If it wants to "go pro" with
USTA backing and a compound, it must find an appropriate location.
Oh, and another lie in the latest design. Not only does it destroy the greenspace and leave a relatively
postage -stamp sized remaining field in the northwest corner...that last piece not fallen pray to pavement
is just a holding field.
I have a very good inside source that said when the neighborhood is wrecked from 100s of cars, noise,
revenue -based tournaments running day and night....the City will swoop in and "do us a favor" by taking
the cars that will block our driveways -- and putting them in a surface lot that will pave over the
remaining sliver of greenspace.
Am I missing something here? Is there an ounce of logic behind the tennis center plan that I oppose for
the sake of the present and countless future generations?
Steve Wright
2330 SW 13 ST Miami, FL 33145
305/776-3231 mobile 305/285-4830 fax
stevewrig ht64@yahoo.com
file://C:\Documents and Settings\Judith\Local Settings\Temp\ELP104.tmp 1/12/2006