Lots going on at Kennedy Park

Special report by by Carlos Iglesia

Many good things are happening right now at Kennedy Park.

They are finally removing the non-indigenous, invasive, detrimental plant and tree species and replacing them with indigenous ones. That includes the huge Australian Pines, the infamous Seaside Mahoes, Brazilian Pepper bushes, etc.

There was a comprehensive, official study done about that from accredited arborists a few years ago, which identified such detrimental plants and trees. 945 of them, if memory serves. 

They are also finally trimming the mangroves to open “windows” so we can see the water. Now, you can see the Bay a lot better at Kennedy Park. 

I wish they would do the same a Peacock Park, actually completely remove a few mangroves on the East side, where the boardwalk is, so people can see the Bay, as it was for decades before the 90’s. You could see the Bayside water all the way up from McFarlane Road. We know mangroves are beneficial, but even arborists agree that we are going overboard about that, as one recently told me. There are thousands of “sacred mangroves," as I call them, all over the five miles of blocked bayside water views that we have in Coconut Grove. Sadly, the only place you can see some water along those five miles is Seminole Boat Ramp, a few yards, if you’re walking, biking, or driving by the sidewalks or the road in South Bayshore Drive. Just imagine what better water views from the street would do for tourism and business in the Grove.

At Kennedy Park, they are also planning to open-up kayak launching points, close to Bayshore Drive, west side of the park, out of the “rivers” that come in from the bay through the mangroves.

They have already replanted already numerous grown, nice new trees, as they did on 27th Avenue recently.

According to the workers and the arborist, who I spoke with, they are also replacing torn, ugly grass with new, better quality grass patches.