(L-R) Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez, Commissioner Angel Gonzalez, Mayor Manny Diaz, City Manager Pete Hernandez, and Capital Improvements Director Ola Aluko join Grapeland Park Summer Camp children to cut the ribbon for the new Grapeland Park Recreation Center. Photo: Jorge R. Perez/City of Miami.

(Miami, Florida) – City of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, Commissioner Angel Gonzalez, and Commission Chairman Joe Sanchez today hosted the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new Grapeland Recreation Center, E-Parks Technology Center and Boundless Playground.

“Thanks to the efforts of city staff, our city manager and all who where involved Grapeland is now the most beautiful park in Miami-Dade County,” said Commissioner Gonzalez. “What makes this park such an important accomplishment for this community is that in the month and a half that the facility has been complete, it has been used by more than 50,000 residents, so we know that it is serving a real need for families from surrounding neighborhoods.”

Marking the completion of the transformed Grapeland Park complex, the new recreation center will provide residents with after school, summer camp, and senior programs. It will also provide neighborhood residents access to the internet and other web tools at the new E-Parks Technology Center. 

“Grapeland Park is an example of what a park should be—a place that creates a sense of community for all,” said Mayor Diaz. “In addition to bringing residents together, this park will also prepare our children to compete in the 21st Century by allowing them access to the enormous amount of information that is available through the web.”

In celebration of the new E-Park Technology Center, members of the City of Miami Information Technology Department and executives from Microsoft were on hand to present prizes to the E-Parks Technology Challenge winners. The goal of the contest was to engage children (age groups 6-11 and 12-15) to use the E-Parks resources for research and school work. Over 500 children in the parks after school programs participated. 

Grapeland Park Recreation Center is a 5,600 sq. ft. Community Center/Recreational Building consisting of two (2) multipurpose rooms, an art room, computer room, administrative offices, ADA compliant restrooms, covered terrace, storage area, and an irrigation system along with landscaping.  The estimated project cost is $1,500,000 with funding provided by the Homeland Defense Neighborhood Improvement Bond. 

The recreation center is just one component of a 13-acre active park which also incorporates a baseball complex with 4 fields, and the city’s only water park. Miami-Dade County contributed $18.5 million in General Obligation Bonds towards the park project. 

For more information on the Grapeland Park improvement project, please contact the Department of Capital Improvements at (305) 416-1286.

Fore more information on park hours and programs, please contact the Parks and Recreation Department at (305) 416-1300.