By Coral Gables Gazette staff

When Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago bypassed the city’s regular park naming process earlier this year and suggested the Blue Road Park be named after former Miami Herald Publisher David Lawrence Jr., some members of the city’s Parks and Recreation Advisory Board took notice. And they didn’t like it.

But at the board’s November 13 meeting, Community Recreation Director Fred Couceyro reminded board members that the mayor and commissioners who supported Lago’s move, were well within their rights.

“I think you should have a copy of the park naming policy,” Couceyro told the board, explaining that he helped develop the guidelines about a decade ago. The policy outlines how residents or groups can nominate someone for naming consideration and how those proposals are routed through staff and a nominating committee before reaching the board and then the City Commission.

“One of the items in there was that the City Commission had the ability to waive this process,” Couceyro said. “So that’s what happened with this name.”

Board member Kirk Menendez, however, pressed the issue. “Did they officially waive it?” he asked. Couceyro acknowledged that while the policy allows commissioners to dispense with any or all procedures, he did not recall an official motion.

“What it says is the City Commission may approve the waiving of any or all conditions or procedures,” Couceyro said. “I don’t know if that has to be an official… motion.”

Menendez and others questioned whether the city attorney or manager should have alerted commissioners that a policy existed and that they were, in effect, bypassing it. Menendez noted that new commissioners may not even know these rules exist. “If the Commission wants to bypass the advisory board on a decision, there has to be some protocol,” he said. “We shouldn’t be any different than any other advisory board.”

Several members emphasized that while the individuals recently honored – such as Lawrence and earlier former Mayor Dorothy Thompson – were unquestionably deserving, the process should not be ignored. They also noted that some past namings followed the formal procedure, while others originated solely at the Commission level.

Ultimately, Menendez moved for the board to formally remind commissioners that rules and procedures are in place and should be considered when naming parks. The motion passed unanimously.

Granada Golf Course running path raises safety questions

The board also discussed a proposal revived by the City Commission in early October to explore a dedicated running and walking path around the Granada Golf Course. The idea has surfaced periodically over the last decade, only to meet resistance from golfers and nearby residents.

Menendez raised concerns about safety and liability. “I walk around Granada like a lot of people do, and more and more I see golf balls flying across the street into driveways,” he said. “If we draw walkers closer to where the ball is being hit, my concern is the safety of walkers but also the liability and  exposure of the city.”

Board member Maite Halley agreed, recalling driving along North Greenway when a golfer retrieved a ball that had landed across the road and prepared to hit it back toward the course. “I’m like, dude! That’s dangerous, isn’t there’s some kind of rule that if you don’t hit the golf course your friends give you a mulligan?” she joked.

Couceyro explained that Granada’s design – wide fairways, few hazards, and a compact nine-hole layout – makes it popular. The course is also heavily used. “We’re at over 62,000 rounds without September numbers yet,” he said. “We could be close to 66,000 or 67,000 rounds. That’s a lot.”

He added that under Florida law, liability for injuries caused by a golf ball generally falls on the golfer, not the course, though the city could still be drawn into lawsuits.

Past iterations of the running-path concept included making the surrounding roads one-way and adding space for cyclists and walkers, but that approach drew strong objections from residents. “At the time, it was determined to move on from that,” Couceyro said.

Venetian Pool nears reopening

Couceyro also offered an update on the long-awaited reopening of the historic Venetian Pool. “We’re getting close to the finish line,” he said. The pool has been drained, pumps recalibrated, and water-quality systems tested. Staff will also replaced the loose-stone front walkway – once planned for a later phase – after deeming it a tripping hazard.

“It looks excellent,” Couceyro said. “We’re anticipating opening after the centennial on the 7th (of next month). We’ll have an announcement soon.”

Training on pumps and equipment is underway, and final walkthroughs and permits are in progress. Board members congratulated Couceyro on shepherding the complex project, which has kept the iconic attraction closed for nearly a year.

Pumpkin Patch success may prompt rethinking location

Couceyro also briefed the board on the city’s Pumpkin Patch event at Ponce Circle Park, which proved extremely popular – so popular that attendance raised questions about whether the event may need to change venues or scale in coming years.

“In 30 years I’ve been here, it seems to happen all the time: I start with something really small, and it just jacks up,” he said. When events become too large, the city must decide “do we blow it up and really throw resources at it, make it huge, or do we bring it down?”

He recalled similar issues with the city’s Easter Egg Hunt, which at one point drew around 6,000 people – so many that even with tens of thousands of eggs, children went home empty-handed. For the Pumpkin Patch, Couceyro said the city may consider a larger area, additional activities, or continued limits on the number of available tickets.