Jan 17, 2008 10:23 pm US/Eastern
Virginia Key Beach Restoration Project Complete
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
Under construction for more than a quarter of a century, next month a fully restored Virginia Key Beach will be re-opened to the public.
Dedicated in 1945, Virginia Key Beach was known as "Colored Beach" because at the time it was the only beach legally available in Miami Dade County to African Americans.
"This was sacred land to the African American community," said David Friedman with the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park.
Friedman said in the 50's, 60's and 70's it was the place where families gathered and memories were made. But in 1982, Virginia Key Beach was transferred to the City of Miami and closed because the once beautiful island had become a dump site.
Nearly 20 years later, Miami turned the park over to the Virginia Key Beach Park Civil Right Task Force in response to plans of private development of the beach park. Later that year, the Miami City Commission established the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust to oversee the development and restoration of the historic Park property.
"What a treasure this is to the citizens of Miami," said Friedman.
As part of the project to restore the beach site to its former glory, the Trust has tried to preserve as many of the original structures as possible including the picnic shelters, the concession stand and the dance pavilion.
The original mini-train, which used to give rides to children around the island, has also been included in the restoration project; it was tracked down and then purchased from a collector in Missouri.
A huge celebration to mark the completion of the restoration project will be held February 23rd.
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