The Miami Foundation Accelerator Grants Environment & Public Space

A South Florida native, I'm a mid-career consultant with master's degrees in both arts (UF) and science (FIU). I cover parks and environmental issues for the Biscayne Times. My goal is saving the ocean.

Researchers call the Florida Reef the world's worst case of impacts; likewise, the entire Caribbean reef region rates as endangered by the IUCN. As a Caribbean hub, Miami has the expertise and capacity to lead the region in reef restoration. As important as Everglades restoration, our reefs are part of a global crisis, and we can organize and lead from the epicenter--the reef's Ground Zero.

Environment & Public Space 1: Water quality is of highest concern to coral reef users and managers. Water is not simply drinking water; it is every drop that falls, collects everything in its path, and eventually flows into the ocean. 2. Beaches are the most popular public spaces, and their maintenance affects the nearby reefs. 3. Sustainability begins with healthy ecosystems.

The success is projected, once a community forms around this crisis. We have no choice but success. See business plan at CRSOS.org.

Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department’s Sea Turtle Awareness Program

The proposed sea turtle education will promote the understanding of the biology, health, life history, and habitat needs of Florida’s marine turtles and the protection and conservation of these species among our community’s youth via multi-media presentations and innovative hands-on activities.

Environment & Public Space: Environmental Sustainability is crucial to the long-term feasibility of urban development, especially in coastal communities such as Miami. By Teaching Youth about the wild coastal species they are able to learn conservation through their compassion for animals.

Project staff documented that last year’s outreach was given to 1,400 students at forty-three different title one schools.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center is a not-for profit organization dedicated to environmental education and the encouragement of better citizen participation in the protection of our natural environment.

Education is key to the impact of sea-level rise in our community. Miami-Dade County has the most attractive surroundings of a major urban center. Protecting our parks, beaches and natural environment is critical to maintaining Miami’s unique character. Our location and program takes place in Crandon Park, one of Miami's greatest oceanfront parks.

Park space will be impacted by climate change.
Through education our community will learn to be more sustainable in their daily lives.

Our project goes hand in hand with the “Rising Sea Levels Affect Our Community” portion of the 2014 Miami Report Study.

Sea level rise threatens our natural resources and impacts all eight issue areas explored in the Our Miami Report. Public space, including parks, is one of the areas that may be affected. Salt water intrusion puts our water quality at risk.
In two years, the sea level in Miami-Dade increased by two inches and projections for the future indicate a continued sea level rise.

The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center has been educating the public about the south Florida ecosystems for the past 45 years. Over one million participants have attended our programs. The north end of Key Biscayne, Bear Cut Preserve, was designated a environmental study area back in 1976, thanks to Marjory Stoneman Douglas. She believed the community needed to be educated about their natural resources in order for them to survive. This is our mission and what we do daily.

Coral Morphologic is a hybrid science/art endeavor based on the Miami River led by marine biologist Colin Foord and musician Jared McKay. They present corals as new icons for a 21st century Miami through art, science, film, and virtual reality.

This project will directly benefit Miami by improving awareness and access to its tropical marine environment, while utilizing an existing public space; beautiful South Pointe Park. This project will build on the success of the new South Pointe fishing pier in encouraging greater public interaction and appreciation of Miami’s ‘blue space’.

This project directly improve Miami’s connection with its clean water resources by showcasing what we are trying to protect; our local marine ecology. If people are better informed with the diversity of life living just a stones throw from the water’s edge, they will be more proactive in both celebrating and protecting Miami’s environment. South Pointe Park is already a crown jewel in Miami’s public park system. This project will only serve to raise its profile and maximize its public potential.

Biorock Reef in Bali, Indonesia has become one of the islands most popular eco-dive tourism spots since its construction in 2005. In 2011, the first Biorock reef in the US was approved by the State of Florida and installed just off shore of Lauderdale-by-the-Sea. Similar webcams are currently streaming directly to the internet from several locations in the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas National Park.

Museum Volunteers for the Environment (MUVE) is one of the only science museums in the world with its own urban habitat restoration project. We use science exhibits to attract volunteers and social media to maintain a network of concerned residents.

Miami lacks adequate green spaces for recreation and conservation. There are a lack of suitable outdoor volunteer activities compared to other urban areas. The restoration work at Virginia Key North Point is part of a broader effort on Virginia Key to create what has been called Miami's "Central Park," a place where residents can enjoy ample green spaces in perpetuity. Until recently, Virginia Key was the site of dumping of dredge but efforts are underway to transform it into a public oasis.

As stated in the Our Miami Report, Miami has one of the lowest levels of public parks of any metropolitan area in the country. Volunteerism also ranks low. The environmental movement has a poor track record of engaging people in truly meaningful environmental actions. MUVE gives our residents a purpose. By engaging in restoration they become stewards for an island that until now had no one to stand up for it.

Since 2007, MUVE has restored over 15 acres of mangrove, dune, freshwater wetland and hardwood hammock throughout the county. MUVE partners with local government and agencies. We have created science exhibits both at our current museum and our new building expected to open in 2016 that not only inform residents of our environmental issues but direct patrons to get involved in local restoration efforts.

Miami Dade Parks, recreation and open Spaces Eco-Adventure Section.

Today's children are increasingly disconnected from nature. They devote nearly eight hours a day to entertainment media while the number who spend time outdoors continues to decline dramatically. This is a huge issue because those that are not exposed to nature will not grow to be advocated of conservation. The proposed project will serve to bridge this gap; get people outside while engaging them on their trusted mobile device.

Environment & Public Space: Environmental Sustainability is crucial to the long-term feasibility of urban development, especially in coastal communities such as Miami. Building advocacy for Parks and green spaces and a sustainable environment comes from the connection people have with the outdoors. We are looking to reconnect nature, wildlife and wild places with people in a way they feel comfortable.

Last year the Eco Adventure Section of the parks department had a total of 9612 participants to its programs, tours and presentations. We hosted 12,054 volunteer hours working to restore the areas associated with the nature centers, and lastly we had 482 registrants to our nature based camps.

Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden's mission is to save tropical plant diversity by exploring, explaining and conserving the world of tropical plants. Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Family programs educate children and families about the importance of local plants and ecosystems, and their role in conservation and sustainability. Engaging children in a positive experience in nature is a crucial step to making Miami a more sustainable urban environment. While planting an edible garden, making a recycled craft, providing habitat for pollinators, or meeting a real scientist, these programs provide tools, instruction and inspiration to apply in their homes.

Family programs at Fairchild will directly advance environmentally sustainable practices in Miami-Dade. Designed to educate and inspire families to recognize the importance of local ecosystems and their direct impact on conservation and sustainability, programs offer hands-on activities in recycling, gardening and promoting native ecosystems. Families leave with an improved appreciation for sustainable practices.

Family Programs at Fairchild are offered to 45,000 members and 300,000 visitors on an annual basis. Since this program began in September 2014, approximately 200 South Florida families have participated on a monthly basis, with an increasing number of repeat participants. Verbal feedback has been overwhelmingly positive and demand for additional programming is evident. A written survey is under development to formally incorporate feedback into future expansion.

NL serves young adults with intellectual disabilities who are able to engage in job training, volunteer activities, & gain independent life skills. NL was founded by Dr. Greg Bush, a UM Professor who is an active advocate for youth with disabilities.

By training & employing youth with disabilities to run a food truck, they gain employment & learn transferable skills in sanitary food preparation, money management, customer service, teamwork, etc. This program will increase employment opportunities, thus decreasing the poverty rate for this population. Youth will demonstrate their potential by working with the community to transform urban spaces into empowering hubs of organic gardening, nutritional education and health literacy.

Environment & Public Space Goal 2: Miami Residents have ample access to quality public spaces. As the report shows, Miami has a devastatingly low level of public parks per capita. Parks not only increase property values & the physical well being of neighborhoods, but also provide a critical opportunity for connection. The more a community is interconnected, the more resilient it is to hardship. We will increase the level of parks per capita & refurbish public spaces to their original vibrancy.

Since 2007, NL has increased independence in approximately 97 young adults with disabilities thru its nature-based continuing education programs. NL anticipates an 80% graduation rate of program participants to higher level volunteerism or paying jobs.
Programs:

1.Project Bridge for youth ages 18-22, (2007-2012)
2. Saturdays By the Bay, Historic Virginia Key Beach, (2012-Now)
3. Connections Nature in Miami, Lummus Park (2/14-Now)
4. Connections Nature in South Miami, w/MDCPS, (9/14-Now)

I'm the director of Art of Cultural Evolution, engaged community member and parent to future community members. With rising concerns of environmental issues and climate change, I dedicate all of my time to making Colony1 happen.

Colony1 helps on multiple issues, as resiliency in the face of climate change includes everyone. Our bulk food store reduces carbon foot print, toxic chemical in packaging, supports local farmers, local economy and recycles glass containers for people to get low cost high quality food. In addition we are teaching people to grow food and also how to cook food in our teach and event kitchen. Beyond food, we have an art+science residency program that produces quarterly exhibitions.

Colony1 addresses climate change, sea level rise and economic resiliency. By leading the way forward in consumer habitats and providing an educational platform in which environmental education is brought to the public through creative arts Colony1 helps create resiliency in Miami. Resilient architecture, street planning, jobs, food, water, energy and community is all encompassed in the Colony1 project.

Colony1 has received a land grant from Miami-Dade County in Wynwood, grants from Awesome Foundation, ERM, Miracle Gro, Pollination Project and has raised over $5,000 from crowd sourcing. Colony1 has had several local articles in Curbed, New Times, Edible and local blogs. In addition community volunteers come every Friday and Saturday working on Colony1's gardens. Colony1 collaborates with Miami Dade College providing service learning hours and participates in public festivals and fairs.

A dedicated environmentally minded individual who sees an opportunity to change the character of a neighborhood, the character of its citizens, and sequester carbon by contracting private homeowners to plant and maintain native trees.

Trees give life to every aspect of their habitat. In addition to purifying the air manufacturing oxygen, and providing homes for so many creatures they increase the beauty and desirability of their "neighborhood". This project will seed neighborhoods with this essential life force and provide the inspiration needed to continue the greening of baron neighborhoods.

• Enhanced Environmental Sustainability
  *A way to compensate for Miami-Dade's low ratio of parks per capita.
  *Lower Electric Utility Costs - SHADE

Other projects have given away free trees - these projects have been successful. This project builds on that construct and targets underserved neighborhoods. Additionally the project monitors/monetizes the trees survival and intended benefit.

Citizens for a Better South Florida is a grassroots non-profit organization providing environmental education and outreach to the diverse communities of Miami, particularly the under-served.

Creating a more sustainable Miami begins with forming habits. Our CSW program targets under-served children to educate them about energy & water conservation, recycling, coastal habitat protection, and ecosystem restoration. Encouraging environmentally conscious habits and creating an interest in the environment from a young age will create a more sustainable Miami and inspire innovation in sustainability, enabling residents to target issues such as sea level rise and climate change.

Our mission with this project is to educate students about the different ecosystems in their community, energy and water consumption, and local impacts on the environment, so that they will adopt sustainable practices and environmentally conscious behavior in their own homes and communities. The children’s use of the local park for the workshops will also encourage communities to keep them well maintained and clear of litter and vandalism.

Our CSW program has reached over 5,500 disadvantaged youth over the past decade.
Outcomes of our current CSW program:
-Upon completing the workshop, 60% of students could name three ecosystems in south Florida
-82% of students reported having an interest in environmental science after participating in the CSW program.
-73% of students stated that science is fun and exciting after completing the workshop.
-91% of students stated that the CSW program will help them in school.

CappSci is a non-profit foundation located in Coconut Grove. Our mission is to apply science to challenges of global significance and solve them by combining people, knowledge, and capital.

The Science Barge will activate underutilized waterfront & add value to a public park without compromising any green space. The Barge produces food in the urban core using renewable energy & a closed-loop water system, which preserve air & water quality by reducing the trucking of food & eliminating runoff into waterways. The Barge will serve as model for South Florida as a leader in renewable energy & sustainable agriculture, with the ultimate goal of spurring investment & jobs.

The Barge strives to be net zero & will preserve air quality by producing no emissions. All fresh water is re-circulated, ensuring that no nutrients pollute Biscayne Bay. All waste on the Barge is recycled, composted or repurposed encouraging the implementation of these practices in daily life. Taken together, these technologies embody an ecologically conscious approach to food & energy production that, when adopted globally, can slow climate change and mitigate the threat of sea level rise.

The Miami Science Barge expands upon the highly successful NY Science Barge, designed by CappSci founder, Dr. Ted Caplow. Now in its 7th year, the Science Barge has hosted tens of thousands of students and public visitors and appeared in National Geographic, Science, and the Economist, among others. Dr. Caplow’s original design will serve as our model, but adapted to Miami’s sustainability and environmental challenges. A local advisory panel will be led by Dr. Kenny Broad of UM’s RSMAS.

Arch Creek Park was home to Tequesta Indians from 500 B.C. to 1300 A.D. Arch Creek became a significant Indian habitation. A midden is located in the park where a large amount of pottery shards, conch tools, and a single burial site have been found.

By increasing the accessibility along with providing rain shelters would positively affect the amount of visitors who use the park. The shelters allow for group gatherings, which brings new visitors into the park. This would increase community awareness and usage of the natural areas of the urban environment.

The availability of abundant, well-maintained public spaces is a critical component of a vibrant urban environment.

Before the shelters burned down/ deteriorated they were highly used by school groups, community clubs, and families. Now that the shelters are no longer usable there has been significantly less visitors in the park along with less community involvement through the parks various activities.

The Everglades Law Center is a nonprofit public interest law firm dedicated to preserving the natural landscape of Florida. For almost 20 years, we have advocated, negotiated, and when necessary, litigated to protect Florida’s special places.

This project will promote actions to combat effects of sea level rise county-wide, and particularly help protect our water supply and open space in the southern portion of the county. These actions will help ensure that the county remains a place where people can live and prosper.

This project seeks to protect the most basic right of our citizens: clean water. It looks to place more land in public ownership that will both protect our water supply and allow citizens access to green space. This project seeks to keep Miami-Dade’s environment sustainable and resilient in the face of climate change.

Miami-Dade County will implement new programs to protect our water supply, including the acquisition and management of environmentally endangered land that will replenish the aquifer. Miami-Dade County will maintain existing protections for our wellfields. Salt water contamination from private entities will be minimized and mitigated. Miami-Dade County will work in conjunction with the South Florida Water Management District to plan a restoration project for the protection of Biscayne Bay.

Board of Friends of the Ludlam Trail, civic activist, president South Miami Neighbors

The Ludlam Trail can be a model of transit/bike friendly walkable urban infill including a world class linear park and trail, connecting schools, urban hubs, affecting and transforming many neighborhoods for the better.

--creating people places
--enabling and emphasizing walking, biking, transit
--restoring endangered natural habitat
--engaging platforms for people / civic leaders to work together in planning for the future of their neighborhoods

So far, the Friends of the Ludlam Trail has been the central organizers of community forums for information and civic networking. We have arranged a town hall meeting last week attended by commissioners, and all city of South Miami public officials, as well as over 450 neighbors. We plan to partner with ChamberSouth, Tropical Audubon and the public at large for the design of the Ludlam Trail.