North Glade Park Like New

In August 2020, Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate improvements at North Glade Park in the Carol City neighborhood of Miami Gardens.

District 1 County Commissioner Barbara J. Jordan, parks director Maria Nardi, and other parks department staff hosted the event to reveal the new 5,200-square-foot, LEED-certified community recreation facility located at 17355 NW 52nd Ave., one block south of Lake Steven.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification that attests a building is designed and built to be energy and water efficient, with low carbon emissions and is generally environmentally friendly. 

Inside the facility, space is provided for a game room, a multipurpose community room, an arts and crafts room, a lounge and lobby area, restrooms, storage and offices, and a roofed outdoor space. Security cameras, low wooden fencing and night lighting have been installed around the building.

Other park improvements include the conversion of the preexisting tennis courts to side-by-side basketball courts, which are completely

enclosed with chain-link fencing. Also, the large 50-space parking lot on the park’s west side has been resurfaced and has new signs erected for two reserved disabled parking spots and two low-emission and fuel-efficient vehicles.

North Glade Park improvements cost approximately $3.1 million, paid for with funds from the Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program, the Quality Neighborhood Improvement Program, Miami-Dade County impact fees, and a General Funds subsidy.

Visitors arriving to the park by car can find spaces in the well-lit lot; for those traveling by mass transit, there is a bus stop directly in front of the new community center. Bike racks stand at park entrances. A wide concrete walkway leads from the parking lot, around the center and to the sidewalk on NW 173rd Dr.

Next to the community center is a new children’s playground with swings, colorful slides and climbers. Most of the equipment is erected on sand, with just a small patch of rubberized safety flooring. There are no overhead shades, but mature oak trees give ample protection from the sun. Currently, the entire playground is sectioned off with yellow caution tape in accordance with county pandemic guidelines. 

According to the Trust for Public Land (TPL), North Glade Park is 4 acres in size and serves 4,440 residents living within a 10-minute walk of the park. Visitors can enjoy large expanses of green space and in the easternmost grassy area, four picnic tables and two barbecue grills. 

The northern part of the park is dominated by a baseball diamond, with four sets of bleachers for spectators. All bleachers are uncovered, but two sets have shade provided by leafy oak trees – perhaps the best of nature the park has to offer. There is lighting for night games and a water fountain nearby. Beyond the ball field to the east is a large open space for other sports. A second water fountain is installed adjacent to the new basketball court. 

Several garbage receptacles are placed within the park grounds, which helps to keep litter to a minimum. Two-rail wooden fencing surrounds most of the perimeter and no pets are allowed. Both the baseball field and the community center will be available for event rentals at some point when pandemic guidelines are relaxed.

In COVID-free times, North Glade Park hosted after-school, summer and school-vacation breaks programs. After-school activities include exercise and academic support led by a Miami-Dade County Public Schools certified teacher. Fit2Play, a program of exercise, health and nutritional education, is offered, as is Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids (SPARKS). 

For all of its good qualities and new amenities, the park does have a few weaknesses. There are no benches for visitors and the grass requires better maintenance, including sodding many worn, high-traffic spots. Also, spectators deserve canvas sunshades erected above the bleachers.