BEACHWALK WORKING GROUP

Beachwalk Working Group Members:
  • Chair:  Alicia A. Casanova
  • Projects: Beachwalk Design, Safety, Signage, Surveillance Cameras, Vehicle Deterrent Bollards
  • Members:  Esteban Porcelli, Oscar Vazquez, Melinda Pearce, Robert Rabinowitz, Charlotte Tomic, Michele Redlich, Mike Daly,  Dr. Manny Corrales.
MBNA is proposing a new "BEACH PEDESTRIAN PATH"
The MBNA is very concerned about the safety of our City's beautiful Beachwalk due to speeding bicycles and electric vehicles sharing this amenity with pedestrians.  In order to improve safety, the Beachwalk Working Group is advocating for the implementation of a Pilot Program for a new "BEACH PEDESTRIAN PATH" to be placed East of the dunes directly on the beach.  This path can be made of compacted pea rock gravel, or Mobi-Mats (see photos below.)  This beach path will offer an alternative to pedestrians that don't feel safe walking next to speeding cyclists. It will also be an option for pedestrians during busy use times where there's overcrowding on the Beachwalk, especially in the narrow 15' sections.
4/29/23 Existing walking path on Surfside:
Sand colored portable and removable "Mobi Mats"
Proposed new Beach Pedestrian Path Ideas:
Additional CMB Parks & Recreation "PARK RANGERS" are needed throughout the Beachwalk
The MBNA has been advocating for more police presence throughout the Beachwalk to enforce existing rules.  "PARK RANGERS" from the City's Parks & Recreation Dept. have been observed enforcing rules, mainly on the North Beach sections.  The MBNA is requesting for additional Rangers to patrol the MidBeach sections as well.
These existing rules must be enforced:
  • No motorized vehicles.  This includes electric bikes, scooters, etc. (more signs are needed)
  • Bikes must Slow Down and yield to pedestrians (more signs are needed)
  • No Smoking (new igns are needed)

The MBNA continues to advocate for the following: 
~ Retractable safety BOLLARDS installed at every entryway to prevent unauthorized vehicles from entering the Beachwalk.
~ Installation of 24/7 Surveillance cameras needs to continue throughout the Beachwalk.
~ Installation of the SAFETY SIGNAGE and directional PAVER MARKINGS need to continue north of 25th Street (see images below).  
~ CMB's Smoking Ban on Beaches and Parks that was approved in 2022 needs to extend to include the Beachwalk.  

MIAMI BEACH BANS CIGARETTE SMOKING AT PUBLIC BEACHES AND PARKS
The City has started installing new "GO SLOW/ KEEP RIGHT" directional signs, center traffic line delineators, and painted directional arrows but the project has stalled.  This needs to continue throughout the entire stretch of the Beachwalk.  
LANDSCAPING MUST BE MAINTAINED and SAFETY MUST BE PRIORITIZED
Per Miami Beach's Code of Ordinance, property owners are required to maintain landscaping behind their properties.  Shrubs and landscaping must be trimmed and cannot encroach the concrete borders of the Beachwalk.  Warnings and Notice of Violations are being issued daily.
  • MBNA's Beachwalk Working Group has been working closely with City Staff to make sure that this important amenity is safe and well maintained throughout the entire stretch. Shrubs and weeds cannot invade the 18" concrete borders. It is each property owner's responsibility to maintain their landscaping behind their properties and the City's responsibility to maintain theirs.  
  • We're concerned with the safety of this popular amenity. During peak hours, the 15' wide Beachwalk sections are not wide enough to accommodate the large number of multimodal users.  ​
  • MBNA Members have also repeatedly expressed our concerns about motorized vehicles/bikes observed on the Beachwalk, speeding bikes and lack of Police presence and enforcement. 
  • We will continue to work together with City Officials to find a solution that provides a safer environment for pedestrians that are taking risks navigating between speeding cyclists and unauthorized electric vehicles.
REQUIRED PROPERTY SIGNAGE for East facing gate! 
​Beginning April 1, 2022, as determined by Ordinance No. 2021-4454, all property owners with access to the Beachwalk must prominently display their correct street address number on the easternmost perimeter structure facing the Beachwalk.  In order to have uniformity on our Beachwalk, we designed a beach theme and found a company that can create these code-compliant signs for all our MBNA Members, and other communities that request it, at a very reasonable price. If you would like to order your Condo or Hotel sign for your Beachwalk facing gate, please complete the order form below. Cost for the full color, reflective, 18” X 24” aluminum sign is only $60.00 (plus $5.25 tax and $15.00 shipping).   
HISTORICAL SECTION:
Although there has been great improvement in private properties enhancing their landscaping and removing shrubs and foliage that encroach the Beachwalk, there is still work to be done.  Below are photos depicting areas that need to be trimmed so that the 18" concrete side borders can be used by pedestrians that are concerned about getting hit by bicyclists, especially in the narrowest sections of our Beachwalk.
October 22, 2022 (private properties)
October 22, 2022 (City owned property)
July 24, 2022
​Photos from 37th & 38th Street demonstrating shrub encroachment sections on the 18" concrete borders and poorly maintained landscaping.
JUNE 25, 2022​
​Photos from 25th thru 42nd Street demonstrating shrub encroachment sections on the 18" concrete borders, poorly maintained landscaping, and abandoned construction debris. ​(Scroll down to view narrated videos.)
​JUNE 25, 2022
VIDEOS from 27th thru 42nd Street demonstrating shrub encroachment sections on the 18" concrete borders, poorly maintained landscaping, and abandoned construction debris in certain areas. ​
27th Street:
29th Street:
30th Street:
31st Street:
32nd Street:
37th Street:
41st Street:
42nd Street:
Pilot Program safety line as of May 13, 2022:
Continuous bike/pedestrian pavement markings and signage are essential for the success of the Pilot Program.  The MBNA urges City Staff to install continuous signs and bike/pedestrian pavement markings to clearly define sections and guide users; (see samples below.)
February 13, 2022 by The Setai (21st to 22nd St)
March 28, 2022 (by The Lowe's Hotel on 16th Street)
BEACHWALK ACCESS PATH by 57 Ocean Condo
​The MBNA followed up with resident concerns about the closing of the access to the Beachwalk by the 57 Ocean Condominium.  Below is City's response with information explaining why the access is now open from sunrise to sunset.
MBNA Video explaining the situation:
(Thank you Esteban Porcelli, MBNA Board Member, for creating this self-explanatory video.)
Slides presented by the City at the Nov. 3, 2021 MBNA Meeting:
October, 2021 ​
September, 2021:
SPEEDING CYCLIST HITS PEDESTRIAN ON THE BEACHWALK
Too many near misses are seen daily! 
Pedestrian hit by bicycle on October 20, 2021. ​ 
(See Mr. Colcord's Facebook posting below)
ANOTHER ACCIDENT ON THE BEACHWALK THAT TOOK PLACE IN MAY, 2021.
Below is a sad testimonial from one of our Residents after a speeding bicyclist ran over her; (shared here with her permission). She ended up at Mount Sinai Hospital with a head concussion.  Thanks to her good health; (she walks 6-7 miles a day), her injuries weren't tragic.
August 28, 2021:  groups of speeding cyclists on the Beachwalk
WE NEED PROTECTED BIKE LANES THROUGHOUT OUR CITY!
Protected northbound and southbound bike lanes on both Collins Ave. and Indian Creek Drive are needed since they will certainly reduce the large number of cyclists currently riding (and speeding) on the Beachwalk.  We're also advocating for a new NORTHBOUND bicycle lane to be added to the Collins Ave.  project from 26th thru 44th street that is currently in the planning stages. 
SEA GRAPE TRIMMINGS
MBNA has expressed our concerns about the excessive trimming currently being done to the Sea Grapes adjacent to the Beachwalk.  (See videos below)
24/7 VIDEO SURVEILLANCE CAMERAS
We're looking forward to the installation of Video Surveillance Cameras throughout the entire stretch of the Beachwalk.
June 25, 2022 Photos of shaded areas provided by mature Sea Grapes (from 27th thru 42nd streets):
REST BENCHES AND SHADE TREES ARE NEEDED
 Two new benches were donated and placed behind Allison Park (53rd street.)  We are advocating for additional benches to be placed at the long sections of the Beachwalk where there is no street access. 

The City has assured us that they are prioritizing shade trees  on the Beachwalk.  Sea grapes on the protected dunes need to be pruned at the bottom to encourage top growth so they can provide much needed shade, especially in areas north of 47th street. 
THE MBNA WILL CONTINUE TO ADVOCATE FOR THE FOLLOWING:
1.  Police/Patrol enforcement throughout the entire stretch of Beachwalk.
2. Street numbers on ALL paved circular areas.
3. Installation of concrete rest benches in sections without street access paths; (46th thru 53rd streets and 59th thru 63rd streets.)
4. Installation of small address aluminum signs facing Beachwalk behind all Hotels and Condos so that Beachwalk users can identify their location, especially in case of an emergency.
5.  Completion of Video Surveillance cameras.
6.  Enforcement of proper trimming and maintenance of both CMB and private property foliage/shrubs that are encumbering the Beachwalk, resulting in narrower open stretches, especially within the 15' wide sections. 
7.  Installation of vehicle deterrent bollards.
HISTORICAL SECTION:
September, 2021
24th thru 30th Street opened on April 2, 2021  
2/16/21 access to Beachwalk on 25th Street:
Photos taken on February 8, 2021, with views from 41st to 43rd street:
The original projected completion date for the Beachwalk Project was originally on February 13, 2021 (as seen in GO Bond Project Status Report below.) The new projected completion date is June, 2021.
4/21/21  - 41-42nd street circles:
Information on Final Phase of Beachwalk:
53rd thru 64th Street Section was open on December 18, 2019.
Below are the responses submitted via email:
Signs need to be placed in locations that are visible.  Many of them are facing in the wrong direction and/or too far to be seen.
These signs are either too tall or placed too far from the Beachwalk which makes them very difficult to see:
We're advocating for "Block Signage" throughout:

Beachwalk Phase I - Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

June 13, 2019

Email: mbna@Midbeachna.com

Midbeach neighborhood association, inc.