Email from City of Miami Beach

Flamingo Park Pickleball Courts in Progress

Temporary Dog Park Closure

Advisory: May 31, 2025

WHAT'S HAPPENING

The City of Miami Beach is simultaneously working on multiple, separate but related, projects within Flamingo Park. The softball field project is part of the approved Flamingo Park Master Plan renovations and the pickleball courts are a Parks & Recreation capital project currently in progress. The soon-to-be available new pickleball courts are located in between the current small dog park and the softball field.

In order for the construction project team(s) to access the new pickleball courts area with large equipment and materials needed to install the new LED Sports Lighting System, the small dog park will be temporary closed. It will be used for construction vehicle access, installation and storage starting Monday, June 2, 2025 for approximately two months.

As part of the collaboration shared by the softball field project and the pickleball court project, the softball field project will use this opportunity to relocate the north fence line of the small dog park to provide for an enhanced entrance to the park from Michigan Ave without causing any additional disruptions. While the pickleball courts, softball field, and sports lighting system are being built, the project leadership will be in close and constant coordination.

PICKLEBALL COURTS UPDATE

The city is installing three new pickleball courts to include new fencing, windscreens, benches and LED Sports Lighting. Led by the Parks & Recreation team, the new courtsare located west of the softball field, north of the basketball courts and just east of the dog parks. Work began in February 2025 and we anticipate completion by the end of June, weather permitting.

SOFTBALL FIELD UPDATE

As part of the coordination between both projects, the existing 4’ fence will be replaced with a new fence to allow for the expansion of the access path that runs parallel to the dog park. Additionally, accommodations to the estate fencing along Michigan Avenue will be made. A new gate will be installed, giving access to the enhanced pedestrian pathway, providing connectivity between Michigan and Meridian Avenues through the center of Flamingo Park.

The Softball field renovation is part of the approved Flamingo Park Master Plan and funded through the G.O. Bond Project. The scope of work for this section of Flamingo Park consists of improvements to the existing softball field. This includes resilient features and other enhancements, such as: enhanced storm water drainage, regrading and elevating the playing field and surrounding area, installing new artificial turf system, upgrading the dugouts and bleachers, replacing the existing fence with taller fencing and netting, the addition of new LED sports lighting and pedestrian pathway lighting, enhanced landscaping with the use of additional shade canopy trees along new pedestrian pathway, replacing existing concrete sidewalks for people and approved park service vehicles with new pedestrian pathway that will also enhance one entrance and create additional park entrances for connectivity and travel. Construction work on the softball field started in March 2025 and should take approximately ten months for completion.

WHAT TO EXPECT

The small dog park at Flamingo Park will be temporarily closed while renovations are ongoing. We expect to reopen the dog park in early August 2025.
The large dog park will remain open for play, for all size dogs to share.
The closest alternate dog parks are located on Belle Isle, in Maurice Gibb Park, or at Canopy Park on Alton Road near 6 Street.
The small dog park will be significantly impacted during construction of the pickleball courts and softball field. Once the new lights are in place and the site is no longer needed for access and storage (anticipated end of June 2025), the small dog park will be repaired and resoded.
At the beginning of July, weather permitting, new sod (fresh grass) will be planted in the small dog park. While it may appear that the new green area is ready, please note that new sod needs time to establish - especially in a dog park - before people and animals can walk on it. We anticipate reopening the dog park in early August.
Construction vehicles, machinery, materials and personnel will be present in the area during the dog park renovations.
This schedule may change due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances.

For more information, please contact South Beach Neighborhood Affairs Manager Lauren Firtel via email at LaurenFirtel@miamibeachfl.gov or call/text 305.986.6403.