Aaron: miami dade public school system takes more than 1/3 of our tax dollars, they can build their own courts on their own land. 17 courts is plenty

In 2000, there were roughly 16,000 residents living in Flamingo Park, with limited green-space and recreational areas.

The City just spent $22,000,000 renovating South Point Park to provide enormous amounts of greenspace for SoFi residents, while prohibiting almost all forms of recreational sports.

Flamingo Park residents have been awaiting restoration of Flamingo Park greenspace for decades, with $11,000,000 in bond funds waiting, and top on our list in this park devoted to recreational areas, is having some peaceful greenspace...

A respite in an otherwise car-heavy, fast-paced urban environment.

We are surrounded by buildings here, living here, with no bay-walk and wide expanse of greenery within walking distance. And, we have debated the Park design for years, and we have torn down the Stolz Stadium to create more green-space, and we have plans for that greenspace.

Flamingo Park does not belong to the tennis center, or the Miami-Dade Public School System which has existing land to build tennis courts at various locations, including a nearby vacant lot at 14th Place and Euclid Ave.

The current Park design plans call for 17 tennis courts, most of which, based on current usage, are empty during much of the day. 

There is no rational basis for slapping Flamingo Park residents in the face, yet again, and denying us an opportunity to have a pleasant park to relax in, with trees, and foliage, and beauty.

We can understand that the "tennis people" represent a powerful lobby, but it
seems they are never satisfied... 

Are we to continue to satisfy them, like an insatiable child, hungry for more more and more?

What about the thousands of year-round and seasonal residents who still live in areas surrounding the Park, and seek solace in Flamingo Park?

Do we have a voice?  Or, should we step aside and be content to peer through the fence at the soccer field, as the last open space, and sigh, like an animal peering out of a cage?

If we are re-opening this debate, I propose reducing the number of courts to 14 courts, 7 clay courts and 7 hard courts.

I propose reducing the footprint of the Tennis Center, while increasing the amount of greenspace to provide the vast majority of the resident population, who do not play tennis, a place to relax and enjoy greenery.

The park needs more green areas, and certainly can do with less tennis courts, which are already scattered throughout the City for the many people who presently drive to Flamingo Park to play tennis.