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Hialeah parks department touts expanded programs, more trees and major capital lineup
Summary
City parks director Willie Sanchez told the council the department has expanded programming, increased safety training and is planning capital projects — including a CCTV program and LED sports lighting — while reporting 2.3 million park visits so far this fiscal year.
Hialeah’s Parks and Community Engagement Department presented an annual report to the City Council, describing expanded programming, safety upgrades and a multi-year capital program while asking the council to approve several projects funded by impact fees and grants.
The presentation, delivered by Parks and Community Engagement Director Willie Sanchez and division leaders, summarized operational improvements, new programs for all ages, safety and training investments and planned capital projects beginning in 2026.
Sanchez said the department now oversees roughly 226 acres of parkland and “we’re way, way ahead of schedule” on turnaround efforts since his return three and a half years ago. He credited staff training and operational adjustments for improved service and noted an emphasis on “parks for all” — programs and facilities intended for children, adults and seniors alike.
The department reported several operational changes: expanded lifeguard and first-aid training for aquatic staff, automated irrigation and field-painting equipment to reduce manual labor, extended weekend hours at select facilities, and increased CPR and DCF training for staff who run after-school camps. Aquatics Supervisor Douglas Cordovi said the city’s aquatic programming grew sharply this year, with swim-related participation up by double digits and Mylander Waterpark open six days a week for the first time in many years.
Programming leaders said youth and adult leagues, expanded cultural offerings and partnerships have driven participation. Community Engagement Supervisor Gian Barzaga said the department grew from about a dozen programs when the current team took over to 54 programs today, including new STEM, music and adult leagues, and an early prevention and intervention volunteer program that signed up more than 100 volunteers who logged over 2,000 hours.
Finance Business Manager Irene Ponce outlined capital projects the department intends to begin in 2026 and later years. Major items include a citywide CCTV camera program (a multi-year rollout), additional LED sports lighting, and multiple playground replacements; Ponce said one playground replacement is fully covered by a grant and will not affect the city operating budget. She told council members the department’s operating expenses run near $16 million while user-generated revenue is close to $1 million annually.
Sanchez and staff highlighted recent site-specific work: LED field and court lighting upgrades at Babcock Park, a new mini-soccer pitch, a renovated gymnasium at Buggy Dent Park, security camera installations at Mylander Park and building renovations at Goodlet and Oakland parks. Staff said they planted more than 550 trees across city parks over three years and began a 97-tree planting at Artman/Palm Lakes Park as part of a canopy goal.
Council members questioned staffing and how facility rentals generate revenue. The department said it uses an online reservation system that captures rental and registration revenue and can produce reports for individual facilities. Council members also pressed for a clearer breakdown of which parks draw the most visitors; staff cited a Placer.ai report showing approximately 2,300,000 visits so far this fiscal year and identified Goodlet, Buggy Dent and Walker Community Center among the most visited.
On capital planning, Ponce said the department has about 14 capital projects scheduled to start in 2026, and fewer projects would be deferred if grant or impact-fee funding becomes available. She and Sanchez said they were working with Florida International University on one landscaping/accessibility design project and that the department is pursuing grant matches and sponsorships where possible.
Sanchez closed by thanking council members and other city departments for support and said the department will continue to expand programs while remaining focused on safety, accessibility and environmental stewardship.
Ending: Council members did not vote on any ordinance in this presentation; staff said the capital list will be brought back in future budget and project-resolution items. Several council members asked staff to follow up with written reports on facility rental revenue, the detailed capital schedule and an itemized breakdown of programming participation.
