After six years of construction, a new 78-acre park has opened in Doral, making it the city’s largest recreational space. At a grand opening this week, hundreds of residents visited the park for the first time, exploring amenities that include a skate park, a fishing pier and a kayak launch.
Situated near the U.S. Southern Command, south of Northwest 33rd Street and west of 87th Avenue in Doral’s bustling business district, the park is currently operating with three out of its four planned phases completed. The final phase will feature an aquatic center with a 50-meter Olympic-standard competition pool, diving platforms, a slide and a leisure area. An 80,000-square-foot community center is also set to open in early 2025.
Monday’s opening included a concert at the amphitheater and first looks of the new playgrounds, outdoor fitness stations, pavilions, and scenic walking and jogging trails surrounded by lush greenery.
The scene was idyllic, with children running, teens skating, adults hanging out, seniors walking and politicians showing camaraderie outside of the usual confrontational atmosphere that exists in City Hall.
Doral resident Julia Jarquin, 74, celebrated the long-expected opening.
“I have lived in the city for 26 years, long before it was incorporated, and I’ve seen tremendous growth,” she said. “We were eagerly waiting for the park to open.”
Jarquin, who lives close by, said that she will walk daily in Central Park.
“The residents needed it,” she said. “But not only Doral’s residents — this could be a place to gather people from other places, like Miami, Miami Springs, Virginia Gardens.”
$180 million in parks developments
Doral has been expanding its recreational spaces since the city was incorporated 21 years ago, and it now has 10 parks in operation. Central Park significantly enhances the city’s offerings, boasting fields and courts for volleyball, basketball and tennis.
In 2018, residents approved a referendum to raise taxes, funding a $150 million general obligation bond for park renovations. Homeowners in Doral will pay an estimated $131 annually over the 30-year bond period. However, the final project costs have risen to over $180 million, with the city covering the additional $30 million from its reserves.
Mayor Christi Fraga told el Nuevo Herald that when she returned to Doral’s government in 2022 after previously serving as a councilwoman and school board member, the city rolled back some earlier decisions in an attempt to reduce costs, including removing plans for baseball fields to preserve green space. That green space will now be used for large public events, such as the city’s holiday celebrations.
“Green space is a valuable commodity, and we don’t see much of it anymore. This allows us to utilize it for various community events,” Fraga said.
Councilwoman Maureen Porras said that after she, Fraga and Councilman Rafael Pineyro took office in 2022, the council worked to approve park designs that could be completed more quickly in an effort to expedite the opening.
“It was important for me to move the project forward and reduce costs,” Porras emphasized.
Among the notable changes was the removal of a proposed dog park due to concerns over cleanliness and pet management. The park will enforce a no-dogs policy, with staff reminding visitors as needed.
Fraga noted that by 2022, only 10% of the park had been developed, saying that her administration is accountable for the current progress. However, Porras emphasized that Phase 1, which laid the foundation, took the longest to complete.
Doral’s former mayor, Juan Carlos Bermudez, who is now a Miami-Dade commissioner, explained that the COVID-19 pandemic delayed the construction and said that even before the incorporation of Doral in 2003, he and many other residents fought to get the park for the area.
Vice Mayor Oscar Puig-Corve told el Nuevo Herald that the cost increase for Central Park was also due to COVID, which forced the city to halt construction. When work resumed, costs had risen by 35%. He also noted that design changes aimed at reducing the scope of the project added an additional $900,000 to the total cost.
Central Park introduces several firsts to the city, including Doral’s first skate park and first Olympic-sized pool. Over 4,000 trees have been planted, enhancing the park’s natural beauty.
One of the most anticipated additions is the community center, which will offer basketball courts that can convert into volleyball courts, a weightlifting area, cardio sections, meeting rooms, gaming areas and locker rooms. A café will be located on the second level, accessible from the entrance at 33rd Street and 92nd Avenue.
The amphitheater, which is already open, will be managed by an outside contractor and is considered the crown jewel of Central Park. Fraga noted that during private events at the amphitheater, the rest of the park will be closed, though the café will remain open.
To access the community center, which includes the gym, café, a demo kitchen and other rooms for various activities, the mayor stated that a membership will be required, without providing further details.
The park will include approximately 1,000 parking spaces, with overflow parking in adjacent areas. The main entrance on 92nd Street is expected to open in 2025, easing traffic flow from 87th Avenue.
Originally named J.C. Bermudez Park, after the city’s former mayor, the park was renamed Central Park in 2015 following a politically charged City Council vote.
Incorporated in 2003, Doral has rapidly emerged as one of the fastest-growing cities in Miami-Dade County, now ranking as the county’s ninth-largest city. Since 2010, its population has surged from around 46,000 to 76,000 — nearly quadrupling the number at the time of incorporation.
