{"id":21881,"date":"2021-06-07T08:06:03","date_gmt":"2021-06-07T15:06:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/?p=21881"},"modified":"2021-06-07T08:49:57","modified_gmt":"2021-06-07T15:49:57","slug":"the-scent-sense-of-parks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/the-scent-sense-of-parks\/","title":{"rendered":"THE SCENT & SENSE OF PARKS"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/a>\n
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PUBLISHER\u2019S PERSPECTIVE<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Flowering Trees to Creative Arts
After-School to Senior Care
Sports Programs to Special Events<\/em><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

ENJOY THE PARKS IN THE \u201cCITY OF PLEASANT LIVING\u201d<\/em><\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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MASTER PLAN VISION The Parks of South Miami<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Parks and playgrounds are the soul of a city.<\/em> 
                                                           – Marty Rubin<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Parks and Recreation Department is responsible for the management of all public parks and coordination of all recreation programs and activities in the city. The department is comprised of five major service areas that include administration, capital improvement projects, park maintenance and landscaping, recreation and special events. Other significant service area include athletics, aquatics, grant management, and senior programs.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

A Decade of Change
<\/strong>Over the last decade there have been much improvements in the parks.  It has been a focal point of the city commission.  Former mayor Philip Stoddard (2010 \u2013 2020) noted: \u201cA decade ago, all of our parks needed upgrades and investment, none were ADA-compliant, and a couple were downright hazardous for children. By creating a Parks Master Plan, the City Commission and staff documented the improvements that were needed, qualified the City to apply for more parks grants, established the priority and sequence for park improvements, and identified neighborhoods that still needed a local park.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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City Manager Shari Kamali and Parks Director Quentin Pough at the Colombian Art Sculpture Garden dedication
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A much desired Parks Master Plan was developed with the visioning process consisting of an inventory and analysis of existing parks, facilities, programs and current and projected community demographics, and consideration of the needs and desires of the city\u2019s constituency.  The study was conducted from 2014 to 2015 and adopted thereafter, providing a ten year strategic document. Parks director Quentin Pough, C.P.S.I., C.P.R.P. refers to the plan as his \u201cbible.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

City CFO Alfredo Riverol, CPA reports that \u201ctotal expenditures, personnel and operating, have been trending upward. In FY 11-12, the city budgeted approximately 1.7 million in parks, whereas in FY 20-21, total expenditures amount to approximately 2.5 million.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

City commissioner Josh Liebman (2012 – ) who ran for office on a parks beautification platform has said at the dais: \u201cWe have the best parks transformation story in the county in the last 15-20 years.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Inheriting a much touted parks program, current mayor Sally Philips lauds the administration for the work being done: \u201calthough each of our fourteen parks has its own unique character, thanks to the oversight of city manager Shari Kamali and the parks director Quentin Pough, all are beautifully groomed and have state-of-the-art installations.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n