On Saturday, May 8th, the City of Coral Gables officially cut the ribbon to open the playground at Jaycee Park (1230 Hardee Road).
The ceremony was attended by Coral Gables Commissioners Jorge L. Fors, Jr., Rhonda Anderson and Kirk Menendez; City Manager Peter Iglesias; members of the Community Recreation Department; former Mayor Dorothy Thomson and many members of the Community.
The playground was built in direct cooperation with the manufacturer and the community in an effort to make the new playground more cost-effective and avoid the need for procuring an architect, general contractors and project manager. An effort the leadership of the Community Recreation Department is proud to have accomplished successfully.
“This refurbishment is one that I know the community has been clamoring for. I know that Mayor Lago and vice Mayor Mena participated in many meetings where ideas for this park were discussed. It’s great to get community input. This is a very popular park and I know families in the Riviera neighborhood, are eager to come out and play and meet their neighbors,” said Commissioner Fors during his remarks.
“Jaycee Park’s playground is a wonderful example of how parks can be designed with resident input. In addition to swings and slides, the park now boasts colorful jungle gyms, a mini rock climbing wall and a water misting station to cool down. And for bigger kids, there is a pavilion and tennis and basketball courts,” said Commissioner Anderson.
“Today’s Jaycee Park Playground Ribbon Cutting Ceremony is a celebration of community, children, and families and the good our City has to offer it’s residents with so much more to come,” said Commissioner Menendez.
In a post on its Facebook page, the Community Recreation Department stated the following: “The new playground design provides increased shade, adventurous play, accessible safety surfacing, and a cool-down station just in time for summer playdates.”
Numerous families with children were on hand to enjoy the new playground and few of the children were happy to have to leave.
Congrats! The Jaycee Park photos are great! Can’t wait to see what ends up happening at Salvadore Park. There is not much for children to play and have fun with there now.