There has been talk for years about opening "windows" in the mangroves at Peacock Park so the water can be seen, but this still has not happened. I'm surprised that the restaurant there hasn't strong-armed the city into doing this, but I guess DERM is more powerful than the city.
But back in 2010 this was a discussion, but nothing was done.
In June 2010 (exactly seven years ago) Ed Baker from the Parks Department wrote an email stating that "a fair amount of additional field work was required for the mangrove issue, and we are now finished with that. All the drawing and necessary documentation are completed. However, there are two pending issues with DERM, essentially some demands that we view as capricious and unnecessary, as well as costly.
"One asks for the height of all mangrove trees: I have pointed out that we are only 'windowing' from ground plane to a height of 6’0”, so heights in excess of 6’0” are essentially irrelevant. Second, DERM has asked for a plan that indicates the location of each mangrove tree: this would require a topographic survey for which there are no funds available (perhaps a cost of $15,000 or more for the two parks). So we will be submitting our final packages next week.
"There have been on-site meetings with the consultant regarding the floating dock and shoreline stabilization, and my understanding is that the projects are proceeding. The elevation of that section of the westerly walk in the northern portion of Kennedy – parallel to South Bayshore -started last week, and my assumption is that this project should be completed this week.”
If DERM is so powerful how come all the mangroves were destroyed along the waters edge next to the Marine Stadium. That was sinful, just for the convenience for the boat show!
ReplyDeleteOne wonders why the mangroves are still there. They were introduced to an area that was barren before. I wold imagine that if some entities were really really concerned about restoring the park to its natural vistas it could be done. We have the BID, CofC, lots of grove activists groups and lots of smart attorneys. I would suspect that if a developer had the same problem they would find someway to get it done. A lot of work to get the grove great views as a seaside village instead of a treeside village- probably. A bayshore drive instead of a treeside drive. Great rewards -obviously.
ReplyDeleteMangroves are important for our eco-system. According to the Florida Museum website:
ReplyDeleteMangroves protect shorelines from damaging storm and hurricane winds, waves, and floods. Mangroves also help prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their tangled root systems. They maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land.
Maybe we can cut "windows" into them, but we can't yank them out!
Anon at 1:52 adding ..I love these people Baywho do not "think" before they speak Do your research. They were put in the 70's or 80's. And what does the properties of what mangroves have to do with it? Let's put mangroves in front of every waterfront property. There is a time and a place. It always amazes me that the grove has no respect for it being on the water but hey it only took bayside 10 years to realize that its original configuration of looking inwards away from the Bay was idiotic. PS. I've got a great ass because I bike 25 miles every other day. Lazy ? No, just mad at stupidity !And how do know what was (or wasn't) there before - been in the Grove since late 50's - any you ?
ReplyDeleteIn reference to my above 2 posts - Miami New Times - Nov 5, 2009 In the 1970s, the coastline forest didn't exist. Miami Herald Neighbors columnist Glenn Terry tells Riptide: "When I arrived, the shores of Peacock Park looked like the shores of Maui." The once-tiny trees were planted in the early 1980s during an environmental improvement project, using city money. Wonder how the shoreline of this one strip of bayview existed for 100's of years without Mangroves. Yup - remember spending afternoons eating on the picnic tables by the shore of Peacock Park seeing - water - a rare sight to see these days in the Grove. Even West Palm Beach a few years ago realized that a large library blocking the view of the intracoastal from the main street downtown - clematis - had to go. Just the opposite in the Grove - if there is a view lets block or build in front of it.
ReplyDeleteAnon:
ReplyDeleteIt's simple, really. The mangroves were cut away during prior development booms, when few people understood that they are vital to Florida's ecosystem.
To assume that they were never there because you didn't see them there in the 70s requires an astonishing degree of ignorance.