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May 15, 2008 9:45 pm US/Eastern
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Americorps To Help Restore Virginia Key Beach Park
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
The beauty of a once forgotten jewel will soon shine bright again. Wildlife will return to nest in thousands of trees and plants that will be planted over the weekend at Virginia Key Beach Park.
"Obviously we have a gem here thousands of acres of green spaces," said Miami Mayor Manny Diaz.
As part of National Americorps Week, a thousand volunteers will plant sea grape trees and sable palms at the park this weekend – a green service project that is also ecologically beneficial.
"As part of our eco-zone program, the one thousand trees planted by the volunteers are going to help save five hundred tons of gas emissions because these trees and plants are our first line of defense and will help the environment," said Diaz.
The history behind Virginia Key Beach Park goes back to 1945. It remained segregated though the 1950s when civil rights laws opened public beaches to all. Over the next several decades the park fell into disrepair and was closed in 1982 because of high maintenance costs.
After years of construction and refurbishment, the beach park was re-opened to the public this year.
"It's very intricate with two barrier islands, we had to get rid of all the trees that were here because they were cutting off the circular water flow for the swampland and wetland here," said David Friedman with Virginia Key Beach Park.
Click Here for more information on how you can help restore historic Virginia Key Beach Park this weekend.
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