Miami-Dade Parks celebrates 75th anniversary with improvements to all marinas
5/25/2004 11:29:21 AM by Vivian Donnell Rodriguez
From waterfront restaurants, picnic areas and sand beaches, to tennis, golf,fishing and diving, Miami-Dade Parks' marinas have plenty of excitingresort-like amenities. And, as we celebrate the 75th anniversary ofMiami-Dade Parks, improvements are under way at all six marinas toimprove the quality of boating facilities. More than 450,000 boatersannually flock to the marinas where they find a full range of boatingservices for both resident and transient boaters, as well as forpersons who simply wish to launch their pleasure craft. The marinas andadjacent facilities are a major component of MiamiDade Parks'recreational offerings.
The city launched its year-long 75th anniversary celebration at Matheson Hammock Park, the county's first park, on March 13.
Following is a list of the marinas and their facilities:
Haulover Beach Park Marina:
Nestled in Haulover Beach Park between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway, this marina is minutes from spectacular fishing.It is the home of the largest charter/drift fishing fleet in SouthFlorida. The 180-acre park also has an on-site restaurant, TheAfterdeck, an ice cream shop, souvenir shop, bicycle rentals, picnicpavilions; kite rental concession; nine-hole golf course and tenniscourts. Underground paths lead to Haulover Beach.
Construction of a new breakwater is well under way. This will add morethan 1,500 feet of breakwater to the facility. Phase II of the projectis expected to begin next summer, which involves construction of additional slips to bring the total number to 140. In addition, a newdockmaster complex will be built, which will include a dockmaster'soffice, rest rooms, showers, laundry facility and a multi-purpose roomwhere boater education classes and other events can be held. A 400-seat restaurant, Solo's, is slated to open at Haulover Marina later thisyear
Approach from sea: Located on the east side of the ICW at St. Mile1079. From the north, leave ICW Marker "5" to port and you will see themarina on your port side. Stay close to the shore and docks as youapproach the marina since there is a sandbar between the ICW and theHaulover Inlet Channel.
Position: 25-54.2 N, 80-8.4 W
Approach Depth: 8-10 feet
Dockside Depth: 8.5 feet
Amenities:
- Accommodates vessels up to 90feet long
- Bait and tackle shop
- Boat launching ramps
- Boat rentals
- Charter fishing
- Commercial slips
- Drift boats
- Electric maximum: 50 amps
- Fish cleaning area
- Freshwater hookups
- Gas and diesel fuel
- Marine store
- Pumpout
- Rack dry storage
- Restrooms
- Transient boats welcome
- Tow service available
- Wetslips
Pelican Harbor Marina:
Pelican Harbor is a great "in-town" marina where you can cruise theIntracoastal for shopping or dining or head out to sea with oceanaccess at either Haulover Inlet or Government Cut. Pelican Island, anature preserve and bird sanctuary, is 400 yards offshore. You can takeyour boat or a marina water-taxi to the beautiful 10-acre island, whichhas "chickees" or open huts with thatched roofs, barbecue grills,picnic tables and a sand volleyball court. The island is open to thepublic and can be reserved for large groups.
Abid has been awarded for boat ramp renovation and construction. Thearea where a restaurant was formerly located has been cleared andlandscaped, and a mooring field is in the permitting process. Approachfrom sea: Located midway between Government Cut and Haulover Cut, atICW St. Mile 1084, just north of the 79th Street Causeway BasculeBridge on the east side of the ICW. At ICW Marker "25" turn east intothe marina basin.
Position: 25-51.6 N, 80-09.9 W
Approach Depth: 6 feet
Dockside Depth: 6 feet
Amenities:
- Accommodates vessels up to 50feet long
- Bait and tackle shop
- Boat launching ramps
- Wash-down facilities
- Electric maximum: 30 amps
- Fish Cleaning Area
- Freshwater hookups
- Gas and diesel fuel
- Pumpout service available
- Trailer dry storage
- Transient boats welcome
- Wetslips
Crandon Park Marina:
This first-class marina, near great fishing and artificial reefs, ispart of Crandon Park. It has a popular dockside restaurant and bar,dive boat operation and is across the street from miles of beautifulsandy beaches, including popular Crandon Park Beach. You can dock yourboat or drive to Sundays On The Bay restaurant, which offers indoor andoutdoor dining and drinking. Boaters and landlubbers alike can enjoythe sunsets and cool ocean breezes. Down the road from the marina isCrandon Park Golf Course, one of the finest municipal links in Floridaand home of the Royal Caribbean Classic Senior PGA Tournament, and the27-court Crandon Park Tennis Center. Abicycle/walking path weavesthroughout the park's lush landscape. The design of the newdockmaster/bait and tackle complex, which includes showers, laundryfacilities and restrooms, has been approved and the project is in thepermitting process. The two restroom renovation projects are also inthe permitting process. The landscaping around the dry storage facilityhas been designed and should be completed this fall. In addition, anautomated pay station was to be installed.
Approach from sea: Located at St. Mile 1094, two miles south of theRickenbacker Causeway fixed bridge. Go south, holding a course of 180degrees. Leave ICW Marker "73" to starboard and follow the well-markedcounty channel northeast to the marina basin using red right returnrules.
Position: 25-42.9 N, 80-10.6 W
Approach Depth: 6 feet
Dockside Depth: 5-12 feet
Monitors VHF channels 16 and 9; call on channel 16 when approaching marina for slip assignment and assistance in docking.
Amenities:
- Accommodates vessels up to 80feet long
- Bait and tackle shop
- Boat launching ramps
- Boat rentals (power and sail)
- Boat wash-down facilities
- Charter fishing
- Commercial slips
- Dive shop
- Electric maximum: 50 amps
- Fish cleaning area
- Freshwater hookups
- Gas and diesel fuel
- Marine store
- Pumpout
- Restrooms
- Sailboat moorings
- Towboat service available
- Trailer dry storage
- Transient boats welcome
- Washer/dryer
- Wetslips
- T-heads
Matheson Hammock Marina:
A nearby bayside park makes this one of our most popular marinas. Dockhere and you can enjoy a tropical hammock, sailing with the pros atCastle Harbor Sailing School and a sandy beach and natural atoll poolwith a first-class restaurant. The Red Fish Grill, on the beach, servesfresh seafood, pasta, chicken and steak, nightly, except Mondays. Youcan dine inside the historic coral rock building or outside,overlooking the beach and Biscayne Bay. The grill's snack bar offerscasual food for lunch, daily, except Mondays. Matheson Hammock Parkalso has a scenic lake bordered by a large coral rock picnic pavilionand smaller pavilions with charcoal grills, picnic tables and benches.Nature trails and bike trails weave throughout the park. The boat rampparking lots have been resealed and restriped.
Approach from sea: Located three St. Miles west of ICW St. Mile 1097.5.From the ICW, head almost due west from the tip of Key Biscayne. Followthe well-marked marina channels to the marina basin using red rightreturn rules. Call for reservations.
Position: 25-40.5 N, 80-15.5 W
Approach Depth: 5.5 feet Dockside Depth: 5 feet Amenities:
- Accommodates vessels up to 50feet long
- Bait and tackle shop
- Boat launching ramps
- Wash-down facilities
- Electric maximum: 50 amps
- Fish cleaning area
- Freshwater hookups
- Gas and diesel fuel
- Outdoor showers
- Pumpout
- Restrooms
- Trailer dry storage
- Transient boats welcome
- Wetslips
Black Point Marina:
Located close to Biscayne National Park, this marina is a greatstarting point for fishing and diving expeditions. It has a docksiderestaurant and bar, the Pirate's Den, large picnic pavilion and grill,bikeways, jogging trails, and a jetty which extends 1.5 miles into thebay, enabling fishing enthusiasts to cast from shore.
The electrical upgrades of the wet slips are in the design process.Landscape upgrades and an automated pay station were to be completedthis fall. Approach from sea: Located approximately 4.5 miles west ofICW Channel Markers "5" and "6," or the area better known as theFeatherbeds.
Position: 25-31.5 N, 80-17.9 W (outer channel marker).
Approach Depth: 4.9 feet
Dockside Depth: 5.5 feet
Monitors VHF channel 16/working channel 68. Advanced reservations arerequested. Call on channel 16 when approaching for dockinginstructions. Amenities:
- Accommodates vessels up to 55feet long
- Bait and tackle shop
- Boat launching ramps
- Boat wash-down facilities
- Electric maximum: 50 amps
- Fish cleaning area
- Freshwater hookups
- Gas and diesel fuel
- Marine store
- Pumpout
- Rack dry storage
- Restrooms
- Sailboat trailer dry storage
- Tow service available
- Transient boat welcome
- Wetslips
Homestead Bayfront Marina:
Dock away from it all at this gatewayto the Florida Keys in the clear waters of south Biscayne Bay, next tothe beautiful coral reefs of Biscayne National Park and the FloridaKeys Marine Sanctuary. It is in a tropical setting with a natural atollpool and beach. It has a snack bar at the beach, picnic pavilions,grills, fishing area and a large playground. The marina's wet slipelectrical upgrades are in the design phase. New waste oil containersare being placed in the marina area.
Approach from sea: Located at Convoy Point, next to the BiscayneNational Park Headquarters (south side). On Biscayne Bay, approximatelyone mile north of the FPLChannel (identified by its twin stacks), andapproximately six miles southwest of ICW Channel Markers "5" and "6,"or the area better known as the Featherbeds.
Position: 25-27.8 N, 80-19.2 W Approach Depth: 3.5-5 feet
Dockside Depth: 5-6 feet
Monitors VHF channel 16/working channel 72. Advanced reservations arerequested. Call on channel 16 when approaching for dockinginstructions.
Amenities:
- Accommodates vessels up to 50feet long
- Bait and tackle shop
- Boat hoist
- Boat launching ramps
- Boat wash-down facilities
- Electric maximum: 50 amps
- Fish cleaning area
- Freshwater hookups
- Gas and diesel fuel
- Marine store
- Outdoor showers
- Pumpout
- Restrooms
- Tow service available
- Trailer dry storage
- Transient boats welcome
- Wetslips
Vivian Donnell Rodriguez is the director of the Miami-Dade Park and Recreation Department. www.miamidade.gov/parks/marinas.asp