Our History
The Parks Foundation of Miami-Dade was created in 2004 in support of the Building Better Communities Bond Issue when visionary community leaders acknowledged that the county’s general fund was not adequate to maintain, expand, and sustain the needs of the rapidly growing Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department. Today, the nation’s 3rd largest park system, stewards, over 270 parks, 6 marinas, 16 miles beaches, 6 golf courses. At that time, Miami-Dade County Commissioner Senator Javier D. Souto had established a referendum authorizing the county manager to set up an Adopt-A-Park program as a mechanism for community activists to generate needed funds for improvements to the historic, ever-expanding park system. Today the Adopt-A-Park program flourishes under the Parks Foundation, in addition to a broad range of opportunities for individuals, civic groups, and corporate sponsors to get involved through fundraising programs and volunteer opportunities.
We are proud that donations to the Parks Foundation have already helped thousands of children learn to swim and hundreds more attend summer camp and afterschool programs. We invite you to share in our passionate dedication to more Parks, Please.