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Front Page » Communities » Historic Miami Circle Park closing for an upgrade

Historic Miami Circle Park closing for an upgrade

Written by on May 25, 2021
  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
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Historic Miami Circle Park closing for an upgrade

Miami Circle Park is about to get a long-awaited sprucing up.

The park, situated at the confluence of the Miami River and Biscayne Bay, will be closed beginning June 7 while repairs and improvements are underway, said Horacio Stuart Aguirre, chair of the Miami River Commission.

The park sits atop the Miami Circle, a 2,000-year-old, historically significant Tequesta Indian artifact comprised of holes and basins carved into the limestone. It was discovered in 1998 during a routine pre-construction archeological survey, and briefly enjoyed international attention. The State of Florida purchased the property in 1999 for more than $26 million. In 2002 it was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Due to its fragility and exposure to wind and water damage, the artifact itself has long been buried under layers of protective limestone. Gradually the park’s 2.5 acres have fallen into neglect, inundated with trash and pet waste, homeless encampments and illegally parked vehicles.

Mr. Aguirre said contractors hired by the Department of State will replenish the park’s landscaping with more than 1,450 new plants and 46,950 square feet of new St. Augustine sod. Many of the plants will be placed directly over the eye of the circle beneath.

Originally, he said, the trees planted in the islands along the sea wall were surrounded by crushed shells, most of which have blown away. They will be replaced with small, decorative river rocks.

The project is estimated to take about 100 calendar days, suggesting the park will re-open around mid-September.

Mr. Aguirre expressed appreciation to the State of Florida on behalf of the commission. “This very special, ancient Tequesta Tribe site,” he said, “is the trailhead of the public Miami River Greenway along the river’s south shore.”

The Department of State’s Division of Historical Resources did not respond to requests for comment.

5 Responses to Historic Miami Circle Park closing for an upgrade

  1. DC

    May 26, 2021 at 8:50 am

    St. Augustine sod? Why? Who will maintain it? Why didn’t they think of wilding the park, returning it to its natural state like Simpson Park. What a sad joke.

    • Glenn LeBlanc

      May 27, 2021 at 11:22 am

      Totally agree with the above comment. Assuming that this park will not have the required irrigation system in place to keep that rather fragile St. Augustine grass from withering away and eventually dying, the laying of that sod is a waste of taxpayer money.

  2. WILLIAM P KEDDELL

    May 27, 2021 at 9:36 am

    Oh dear me. This is a just another sad and ridiculous proposal.

    The bedrock circle should be exposed and protectively roofed so as to be properly exhibited. Visitors should be able to see the postholes and the other features which define it. Anything less is a travesty.

    What this site needs is not another cover-up which is what further plantings on the circle would be.

  3. Paula Romalde

    June 16, 2021 at 11:02 am

    Hi Mr Aguirre!

    I m Icon resident and I m working with neighbors to make our compost with our organic trash. We need an small space in the park to do it and protect the trees and plants.

    Please could you contact me to support our entrepreneurship?
    We only need and small space 🙂

  4. JJK

    June 21, 2021 at 6:57 pm

    Hey all you grass experts! The park has a sprinkler system.

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