Mayor Cava dedicates nature based play spaces at Gwen Cherry Park

Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava led a ribbon cutting for new nature-based play spaces at Gwen Cherry Park at 7090 NW 22 Ave., Miami, FL 33147. The mayor was joined by Miami-Dade County Commissioner Jean Monestime, other members of the Miami-Dade County Board of County Commissioners, and Miami-Dade County Parks Director Maria I. Nardi.

The new development includes a playground designed to encourage children to spend more time outside and develop an enjoyment for nature. The site features swings, spinners, a slide set into a hill, musical instruments to play and a zip line. There are also new bicycle racks, trash receptacles and park benches.

“I am delighted to see this project come to fruition at Gwen Cherry Park,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “This new nature-based playground will quickly become the favorite play spot for the children of this community. It is packed with features that raise the bar for active and imaginative play and inspire a greater appreciation for the outdoors in a natural learning environment.”

The playground celebrates the site’s rich natural history and the diversity of the pinelands. The playground equipment rests on an engineered wood-fiber play surface that blends into the natural landscape. The play area contains natural elements such as cypress logs, which will provide added play and seating options. The landscaping is a reinterpretation of the slash pine’s natural habitat, with native palms, grasses, large shade trees, and pollinator-attracting plants.

“This new playground is an exciting addition to the community,” said Commissioner Jean Monestime. “I applaud the Parks Department for their great work here. I look forward to seeing neighborhood children enjoying these new play amenities on a regular basis.”

“We are excited to celebrate another improvement at Gwen Cherry Park,” said Miami-Dade County Parks Director Maria I. Nardi. “Playgrounds are an integral part of children’s enrichment and this nature-based playground provides kids with the opportunity to reconnect to nature through play. It is a dynamic play space and another great example of improving the quality of life for the community while developing the next generation of parks stewards.”