Cutler Bay issues notice to proceed for Legacy Park construction after arsenic cleanup plan

The Town of Cutler Bay has issued a notice to proceed for construction of its 16-acre Legacy Park and Municipal Complex, and contractor Kaufman Lynn began mobilizing on the site this week, town officials said at the April 16 town council meeting.

Emma Jones, the town's owner's representative with Stantec, said the notice to proceed was delivered to Kaufman Lynn “yesterday,” and residents should begin to see equipment and a construction entry on-site. Jones said working hours will be 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday unless otherwise authorized by the town and that “this is now an active construction site,” so no public access will be allowed without advance authorization by Kaufman Lynn and the town.

The town plans weekly drone footage of the site for public viewing, Jones said, and a small groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for April 25 at 2 p.m., with a larger celebration to follow when building work begins in a later construction phase. Jones also said the first truck hauling soil is expected around May 15 and that perimeter fencing and silt fence installation will begin the week of April 21.

Council members were specifically warned that all trees on the site will be removed because they sit in contaminated soil and cannot be relocated. Jones corrected an earlier slip of the tongue to say the contamination is arsenic, not asbestos, and later reiterated that tree removal will begin May 2. She said a wash station for truck traffic and dust monitoring will be in place, and existing monitoring wells on-site will be decommissioned in April.

Town Manager Ralph (last name not specified) and staff said design work continues for the community center, pool, town hall and police building, and updated elevations will be provided to the public once design documents are aligned with the project budget. The owner's representative said the construction trailer will be placed on-site this week and that the town is coordinating with homeowner associations and management companies to distribute project notices to nearby residents.

The project team also said they will implement dust controls and coordinate with police and public works on traffic and safety near heavily traveled streets adjacent to the site.

Why it matters: Legacy Park is a major capital project for the town and involves environmental cleanup steps, public-safety controls and neighborhood coordination before vertical construction begins.

Looking ahead: Jones said additional design refinements will continue and that updated public materials — including drone footage and revised site signs — will be posted to the town website so residents can monitor progress.