Doral Voters Approve $150 Million Parks Bond.

Doral voters approved the city’s first ever bond, a $150 million expansion of the city’s parks and amenities. The measure passed with a slim 52.70% of the vote.

The “yes” votes tallied in at 7,454 and the “no” votes came in at 6,691 votes (47.30%). Total votes cast came in at 14,145.

Among the projects to be covered by the bonds is the development and completion of the 82 acres of the Doral Central Park… The city’s largest park would take the lion’s share of the bond. With $128 million, the city will buy a 70,000-square-foot indoor recreation center, swimming pools, an aquatic facility, a skate park, sand volleyball courts, a playground, a dog park, basketball courts, tennis courts and a kayak/canoe/paddleboard launch into the lake.

Also, the projects include an expansion of Downtown Doral Park; construction of a cultural facility; a three-acre Walk-to Park; five miles of new bikeway trails and safety features, improvements and lighting enhancements for all other City parks.

The City of Doral government plans to pay the bond in 30 years.

“For 15 years, the City has delivered on the vision of providing our families with the highest level of quality of life through our nationally-recognized parks”, said City Manager Edward Rojas “Now that the community has spoken, our efforts will go into high gear. The approved funds will allow the City to tackle more projects in less time. The result will be an unprecedented expansion of the City’s natural, recreational, and leisure facilities, delivered in the same effective, efficient, and transparent manner the community has come to know and expect.”

“The residents have sent a clear message – parks are a top priority for this community and something they recognize the value of investing in for their families,” stated Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez. “As with all City projects, I am fully committed to seeing that these projects meet our residents’ expectations and need for the betterment of this great City.”

The Mayor, City Council and Administration will immediately turn their attention to establishing the safeguards that will guide the City’s use of the bond funds, including establishing the audit oversight committee, preparing project plans, and providing the residents with regular progress reports. It is anticipated that the City will issue the bond for the first phase of the funds as early as 2019, with project construction to begin shortly after.

For more information about the Doral Park bond, project details and timeline, visit www.DoralParksBond.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram — @cityofdoral.com.