Neighbors protesting proposed park changes

Neighbors are quite concerned about a new exercise equipment area being added to Merrie Christmas Park. Construction is to begin today at the park on LeJeune Road and Barbarrosa Avenue. The exercise equipment is also being added to Myers Park on S. Bayshore Drive, it's all similar to the equipment at Kennedy Park.

Neighbors feel that the "cement based eyesore" does not belong in Merrie Christmas park, they feel it will destroy the park's natural beauty. The proposed equipment area is the size of about two tennis courts, you can see it cordoned off with the orange fencing in the above photo.

The unique valley-type setting was created years ago to be a natural patch of untouched wilderness. Neighbors fought a dog park years ago and now seem to be totally against the exercise equipment. According to an email that went out this weekend, the Miami Homeland Defense/Neighborhood improvement Bond Oversight Board "sneaked this under the radar of political or public scrutiny by pricing it under $50,000," so none of the neighbors were notified.

They are fuming. An impromptu meeting was held yesterday afternoon, about 40 neighbors showed up about 5 pm to make a plan of action. They are now organizing to fight the new feature that they feel will destroy the tranquility and beauty of the park. A petition is online here.

Starting today, neighbors will take turns keeping watch over the area in a "passive protest." A couple of neighbors are going to the parks commission today, to see what they can do.

Also, they are asking that you email Commissioner Marc Sarnoff here: msarnoff@miamigov.com; or call his office at 305.250.5333, email Raul Garcia, Chief of Operations of Parks here: rmgarcia@ci.miami.fl.us and Ernest Burkeen, Director of Miami Parks & Recreation here: Eburkeen@ci.miami.fl.us, you may also call him at: 305.416.1320.

Update (9:20 am): Mr. Ed Burkeen of the Miami Parks Dept, spoke with one of the neighbors this morning by phone. He agreed to stop all intended construction today and will get in touch with Commissioner Sarnoff about the situation.