[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6455211,"mediaKeyId","5851442-6d72d55bf2287370399d5c1426749a0b","parentId",5851442,"title","Coral Gables advances Rotary Centennial Park improvements, seeks FRDAP grant for $200,000","audioSeconds",1505,"startMs",988200,"endMs",2493744,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5851442-6d72d55bf2287370399d5c1426749a0b&start=988&end=2493","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5851442-6d72d55bf2287370399d5c1426749a0b/thumbnail_988200.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6455211/Coral-Gables/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Coral-Gables-advances-Rotary-Centennial-Park-improvements-seeks-FRDAP-grant-for-200000","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455211-949186ffd0489be61453ec1c0cdd68cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197863&Signature=hU8KX6lw04vZejqeR5PEmO1s6YUe6IVmaf8HTEaa-VPZPOnLt883pUVdIqkgllScSr8g-pW1S0imIxYvX2v0-BNUnGbp0nhs-6-RnhF3bDbvVfciXp47j8KGy9Ncn8rcf0urU00Umys18PuNO80ASNJZIAtGZfSeXKhYL-UG78A5Tu25WYYrYlEF5J2sU6qg51ITJpwhqnlAZjtMTK5AAWWMA1BB~CJ5mwoaU3t5Ew6TtwT6KwXr8BOvZKNeychUIVdU2qJXmjMSdKAKOR0-faUhrojGuVenpWV9iSLpMODga3QYDaUjt0jDqF9dh0wdQyCWm2AKldKpVgy4~aqBWQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Coral Gables","date","2025-09-29T20:18:01Z","article","City of Coral Gables recreation staff updated residents on designs and budget estimates for Rotary Centennial Park and requested community support for a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) grant application. Community Recreation Director Fred Cucero said the city will request the program’s $200,000 maximum and provide a local match toward a larger project estimated at roughly $1.3 million.

Cucero described the park as a corner site the city acquired in 2002 and said the park was named in 2005 for the Rotary Club of Coral Gables; a city resolution in 2006 formalized funding through a Building Better Communities general obligation bond program. The current design keeps a split footprint with a playground on one side and a passive/open area on the other. Planned upgrades include a new playground system (climbing structure, coaster slide, swings and interactive musical elements), a decorative round accessible entrance with new signage, accessible picnic tables, FlexiPave walkways, perimeter picket fencing with oolite columns, low‑level landscape lighting, a drinking fountain with bottle filler and a push‑activated mister.

Cucero said the city is piloting security infrastructure in parks and plans to include CCTV and a Code Blue security pole that combines a blue‑light emergency button, an AED and two‑way communication to the police station; if pilot installations prove effective the city expects to expand the program to additional parks over time.

On costs, Cucero said the estimated construction budget is $1,200,000 and the total project budget is $1,300,000; he said the increase from earlier estimates reflected higher market prices. He added that the project is shovel‑ready, that community input occurred Oct. 1 through Oct. 31, 2024, and that the city will submit permit drawings and pursue procurement once financing is in place.

Residents raised concerns at the public meeting. Al Caro, who identified himself as a longtime nearby resident, said the neighborhood has many elderly residents and suggested a fitness circuit (a \"Vita course\") might suit the site better than a playground: \"I think it's good that you're doing a kiddie park, but you understand that most of the people that live in that area are elderly.\" Another resident questioned maintenance of existing landscaping and the inclusion of interactive musical instruments because of potential noise; Cucero said the city has a maintenance plan and will consider resident feedback on features.

A teenager who said she formerly attended the nearby middle school told staff she uses the park daily to meet friends and warned that school‑hour traffic already creates hazards at the site. Cucero said the renovated playground would be fenced to create a controlled entrance and that the city cannot change school traffic patterns but will design the park to be safe for children.

Cucero closed the presentation saying the city will record the meeting comments for the FRDAP application and continue permit and procurement work when financing is secured.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Community meeting for FRDAP Cooper & Rotary parks","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented design updates and a larger project budget for Rotary Centennial Park and asked for community support for a FRDAP grant application; planned improvements include a new playground, accessible entrance, CCTV/Code Blue pilot poles and perimeter fencing, with a total project estimate of about $1.3 million.","taxTitle","Coral Gables, Miami-Dade County, Florida","taxId",51824,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6455218,"Coral Gables seeks state grant to rebuild Cooper Park with new playground, fencing",413,4800,417940,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5851442-6d72d55bf2287370399d5c1426749a0b&start=4&end=417","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5851442-6d72d55bf2287370399d5c1426749a0b/thumbnail_4800.jpg","/articles/6455218/Coral-Gables/Miami-Dade-County/Florida/Coral-Gables-seeks-state-grant-to-rebuild-Cooper-Park-with-new-playground-fencing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6455218-e7e0948600b2eceea498e31c395646a6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771197863&Signature=M~rA5AxT8tC0bIOMz9m97x1HDUxmCq~62xMsepkwlCfnRoJa0CCce~WX9~zxnu7Vuabj36kx0btuHEE1eKleqe82AQLDbiSpyRoxejPoHnmrTgEycbREAY-~KngJiqsooPHkqfIU1mPoCTPPpJyb5uFKGW240dddr2tdg0Ea6TSEg1Dy81--1WubKkmnwKLKC0r5sv1Zax~5vSMa5BgdiM-TAKwyE3Qnk4ivbL4AsU4W6bDpYRsaKBXy6kD8APZsA~cs3XIUOM3UweenQ3MMhQqLnxB1Ina2eYylkJywb5KDm~fYzNbQ7pynoMHFmrr~COfUiAmLYFgYNAs4WhKDPA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Community Recreation Director Fred Cucero presented the finalized design for Cooper Park and asked residents to support an application to the Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program (FRDAP) for up to $200,000 in state grant funding. Cucero said the park design and community input process are complete and the project is moving to permit and bid phases.

The project team says Cooper Park’s design centers on a nature-based playground and a “wheel” or gear layout that stitches two diagonal lots together. Planned features include two play areas (ages 2–5 and 5–12), a Volo playground system, artificial turf safety surfacing and play mounds, a two-bay swing (including a “mommy-and-me” style swing), a FlexiPave walking surface, benches, picnic table, drinking fountain with bottle filler, shade structures, bike racks, trash receptacles and a perimeter picket fence. Cucero said the city will also install a monument sign and low-level landscape lighting.

Cucero noted the grant is competitive and that state funding is not guaranteed: \"it's a competitive program based on the park project... you can't ask for more than 200,000, and the city has to provide a matching grant.\" He added that in years when the Legislature does not appropriate FRDAP funds, projects are not awarded.

The city reported that community outreach for Cooper Park took place earlier in 2024: a public meeting was held April 25, 2024, with an input period that ran through May 2024. Cucero told attendees the concept has been finalized and the project has moved into permit plan and drawing phases; the city estimates procurement of a construction firm by June 2026 and park construction and completion in 2026.

Residents who spoke at the meeting offered both support and concerns. Lee Cooper, who identified herself as the granddaughter of William and Leona Cooper, said, \"we have about, like, 30 a little 30 kids in the neighborhood that are under the age of 10 who will really, really benefit from the park.\" Other residents raised concerns about preserving green space and whether the playground program fit an area with a sizable elderly population; Cucero said the playground design followed the community input process and that Nellie B. Moore Park would remain a passive green space as a result of that input.

Cucero also said the city is discussing a possible property purchase that could affect the park layout; he said the design would be updated if additional property is acquired. The presentation emphasized that the city intends to provide the required local match and that Cooper is a shovel‑ready project intended to score well under FRDAP priorities such as health and well‑being, public access and accessibility.

Public comments and the presentation were recorded for the city’s meeting record. The city will include the comments in the grant record and proceed with permit work ahead of bid and construction if the grant and other financing are secured.","City recreation officials presented a finalized design for Cooper Park and asked the neighborhood to support a Florida Recreation Development Assistance Program grant application that would contribute up to $200,000 toward a larger, city‑funded rebuild expected to be bid for construction in 2026.","actionData","errors"]

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Coral Gables advances Rotary Centennial Park improvements, seeks FRDAP grant for $200,000

Coral Gables seeks state grant to rebuild Cooper Park with new playground, fencing