After decades of delays, promises, and persistence from residents, Phase Two of the Washington Park Renovation Project officially broke ground on Jan. 23, marking a major step toward transforming one of North Miami Beach’s most historic Black neighborhoods into a modern, inclusive community hub.
The project builds on the momentum of Phase One, which focused on underground infrastructure improvements, including sewer upgrades critical to supporting future construction. With that work nearly complete, Phase Two shifts the focus above ground to the community center, bringing visible progress to a community that residents say they’ve waited their entire lives to see.
For long-time residents, the moment was especially meaningful.
(Courtesy of North Miami Beach)
On Jan. 23, the City of North Miami Beach hosted the groundbreaking ceremony for Washington Park Phase II.
“It means a new beginning, new opportunity, new light,” said Washington Park native Star Breedlove-Biggers, who grew up in the neighborhood and now serves on the Voter’s Council of North Miami Beach. “Something that was dormant for quite some time, I feel like there’s new energy being pumped back into the city.”
YEARS IN THE MAKING
(/Photo by Amelia Orjuela Da Silva)
NMB Commissioner Daniela Jean.
The air was thick with emotion as speakers took to the podium, acknowledging the project as a victory of persistence over time.
"I tell people when they have a child that doesn't quite behave, you just have to live long enough to see them grow," Commissioner Phyllis Smith told the crowd. "Well, that’s Washington Park. We all just had to live long enough. This goes back years, begging for funds where we can. I am honored that I lived long enough to get to see this."
(Photo by Amelia Orjuela Da Silva)
NMB Commissioner Phyllis Smith./
That sentiment was echoed by Commissioner Daniela Jean, who said the promises made to this neighborhood trace back over 40 years.
(Courtesy of North Miami Beach)
(L/R) Commissioners Daniela Jean and Lynn Su, interim city manager Andrew Plotkin, and Commissioners Phyllis Smith and Jay Chernoff.
"I'm happy to be part of the generation that sees this come to fruition," Jean said. "This is not just a center that's historic in nature, but it's gonna be transformative in so many ways.”
The Washington Park community, established in 1950, is one of the oldest Black communities in the region. For NMB residents like Linda Joseph, the park is a vessel for the neighborhood’s soul.
"Being a Haitian American, it is because of this neighborhood that we were able to migrate here," Joseph said. "The things that we're going to be providing for the community, for the kids, a space where they can grow and learn, where they can feel comfort.”
(Courtesy of North Miami Beach)
Linda Joseph, NMB resident.
The groundbreaking event was deeply rooted in the neighborhood's history, a fact highlighted by Lorenzo Hall, president of the Voter’s Council. For Hall, the project is a personal mission inherited from his lineage. Standing before the crowd, he reflected on the significance of the moment, noting that his father was one of the organization's original founders who worked alongside pioneers like Hazel Crawford, for whom the neighboring resource center is named.
(Photo by Amelia Orjuela Da Silva )
Members of the NMB Voter's Council and long-time residents of Washington Park at the groundbreaking ceremony.
FROM INFRASTRUCTURE TO AMENITIES
While the celebration focused on the future, the technical foundation of the project is already nearing completion. Hamid Nikvan, director of NMB Water, reported that Phase One, the critical "underground work,” is 90% complete. This phase involved the installation of a 10-inch sewer force main and a new lift station, ensuring the neighborhood is "future-ready" for expansion. Despite nationwide supply-chain delays on electrical equipment, the infrastructure is nearly ready to support the massive structures coming in Phase Two.
Kerlyne McHenry, interim Public Works director, outlined ambitious plans for the next two years, with completion expected by the fourth quarter of 2027. The highlight of the redevelopment is a 12,900-square-foot community center designed as a hub for recreation, education, and community engagement.
(/Photo by Amelia Orjuela Da Silva)
Lorenzo Hall, president of the NMB Voter's Council, speaks at the ceremony.
The new facility will feature educational resources such as a small library, computer labs to support digital learning, and dedicated classroom stations. Recreational amenities include a zero-entry swimming pool, a high-tech splash pad, and an inclusive playground designed for children of all ages and abilities. Athletic facilities include a multi-use artificial turf athletic field and two covered basketball courts to provide relief from the sun. There will also be a community space with a grand banquet hall, a stage, and a kitchen for local gatherings and celebrations.
(Courtesy of North Miami Beach)
Washington Park aerial view.
"Accessibility remains a core priority throughout this project,” said McHenry. “The entire park, including all new walkways and playground areas, will be fully ADA-compliant, ensuring safe and inclusive access for all users. We're extremely proud of that."
The project also involves a total reconfiguration of the site to improve the flow of movement. This includes permanently closing the pass-through roadway to unify the park into a single, cohesive campus.
ROAD MAP TO 2027
According to quarterly milestones shared by the engineering and architectural teams, the transformation will be a steady climb. In Q1 2026, residents will see major demolition, utility infrastructure work, and the foundations of the new building rising from the ground. The playground has already been removed. In Q2 2026, residents should anticipate street closures between 152nd and 153rd Terraces along Northeast 14th and Northeast 15th Courts, and between Northeast 14th and Northeast 15th Courts.
In Q4 2026, construction will begin, and the community will be engaged. In early 2027, the building will be "dried in" with a roof and windows, and work will begin on the splash pad and pool. Finally, in Q4 2027, the final touches — landscaping, irrigation, and trees — will be completed.
While demolition and construction move forward, city officials emphasized that youth programming will continue.
Interim Parks and Recreation Director Ian Fors said after-school programs have already been transitioned to Allen Park and the Hazel Crawford Neighborhood Resource Center, which has been retrofitted with new activities.
Fors said Washington Park will remain a focal point for recreation.
“It’s going to serve as a safe space where kids can continue to grow, continue to develop, and continue to be a part of our community,” he said.
Joseph echoed that sentiment.
“This neighborhood needs this park,” she said. “This is what we call a third space. It's not your home. It's not your work. But somewhere you can hang out, you can talk to and meet friends. That's what this means to this community. It means comfort. It means growth.“
She added that the lack of such facilities in the past hindered local potential.
"The amount of talent of smart kids that’s in here — we’re missing out. You know how many real Nobel Peace Prize winners could be living here? A surgeon, a doctor? And it’s because we’re not giving the space to grow. This center represents all that."
The project is estimated to cost $27 million, with around $20 million of that attributed to Phase Two, based on the last report.
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(Courtesy of North Miami Beach )
Washington Park aerial view.
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(Courtesy of North Miami Beach )
Washington Park Community Center renderings.
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(Courtesy of North Miami Beach )
Washington Park pool renderings.
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(City of North Miami Beach)
"This is not just a center that's historic in nature, but it's gonna be transformative in so many ways." -Daniela Jean, NMB Commissioner