By Coral Gables Gazette staff
Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago is calling for immediate action to address what he and fellow commissioners describe as a growing public safety risk around the Granada Golf Course. The popular walking, jogging, and biking route—used daily by residents and visitors alike—has become increasingly congested and dangerous, officials said, with calls mounting to build a designated path before a fatal incident occurs.
“We are going to have a catastrophe,” Lago warned at the most recent City Commission meeting. “People want enforcement, but there are too many people running on the street. We have to come to an understanding—this isn’t about inviting people here. They’re already here. Everybody wants to run in the Gables.”
The mayor’s comments follow the recent arrest of Wilbert Cabrera Valdes, 32, in connection with a May 21 hit-and-run near the course that left two women with severe injuries. According to police reports, Cabrera Valdes’ black Mercedes veered off Greenway Drive around 6 a.m., striking the two women as they walked along the edge of the golf course. Both victims sustained multiple fractures and traumatic brain injuries. Cabrera Valdes was charged in September with leaving the scene of a crash causing serious bodily injury and possession of a controlled substance.
The incident galvanized concerns long voiced by residents and city officials: that the scenic loop encircling Granada Golf Course—beloved for its shade and views—has become unsafe for the volume and mix of users it now attracts.
Planning before the next emergency
Mayor Lago proposed commissioning a design study to explore options for a soft-surface path along the course’s perimeter. The path would accommodate runners and pedestrians while incorporating landscape features, such as low-impact screening trees, to preserve the area’s natural character.
“We need to spend a little money to do a study, get a simple design, and create a running path,” Lago said. “It doesn’t have to be perfect—just something soft, safe, and that blends in with the scenery.”
Vice Mayor Rhonda Anderson said she had already met with city staff to explore issues of accessibility and environmental compatibility, including concerns about invasive tree species and ADA compliance.
“We talked about ADA access, the connection with the Biltmore, and the invasive Australian Pines,” Anderson said. “We can replace them with native buttonwood trees and create a safer transition area. A rubberized surface or something similar would be a real benefit. Otherwise, we won’t be able to get people off the street.”
Commissioner Ariel Fernandez recalled that similar solutions had been explored more than a decade ago—including the idea of converting North and South Greenway into one-way roads to make space for a bike lane.
“It’s time to revisit those discussions,” Fernandez said. Lago concurred: “Someone is going to be hit by a car out there—the number of people using it grows every day.”
Personal experience reinforces urgency
Commissioner Richard Lara, who said he walks the course nearly every evening, voiced strong support for the mayor’s proposal.
“You can’t be out there and not feel like you’re playing a game of Frogger,” Lara said, referencing the classic video game. “You hear cars coming behind you, and you’re the one who has to move off the road. It’s bikes, runners, people walking dogs—all mixed together. If we just leave it alone, it’s a tragedy waiting to happen.”
Anderson reminded her colleagues that tragedies have already occurred.
“When I was campaigning five years ago, a professor was hit and killed out there by a bicyclist,” she said. “We need to separate pedestrians, bikes, and cars. There was also a recent incident where an architect was hit while walking on the grass. It’s not a question of if—it’s already happening.”
Lago emphasized that planning must begin now to ensure funding is included in the next city budget cycle.
“We can’t keep talking about it,” he said. “Let’s figure out the cost, bring in a consultant, and make it happen. The goal is simple—keep people safe.”
This Post Has 22 Comments
Finally.
At last!! I have been walking/jogging the perimeter of the course for many years and it is a great experience but for the cars speeding… glad to see the city is looking into a viable solution to protect the users of the course…
This is terriffic news! I too have been walking and jogging this path to 25 years now (I’m 50) and this is long overdue. Residents really enjoy the area and many of us have gotten to know each other on the path. Unfortunately, it is unsafe and too make matters worse some drivers don’t like it when bikers or joggers are on the street and will intentionally move closer to the pedestrians instead of further. I was hit by the side mirror of a van that was clearly not owned or driven by a CG neighbor but by someone that despises joggers. We need a safe space. Frankly, it makes sense to screen the path from the golfers too. It is not uncommon to see balls flaring out towards the pedestrian path and street. Thanks to everyone who is looking into this and making this part of our city better and more resident friendly!
Oskar Larrauri
That would be a huge liability for golfers. The joggers need to go to country club Prada with there is the same big jogging route with no golf course .
Not sure why the city doesn’t funnel the joggers where there is a lot less traffic instead of creating a jogging path where joggers can get hit with golf balls and cars. And the in the early morning, you can barely see the walker or joggers who are who have no deflectors on. I drive it every early morning and even with intent focus it is hard to see people on the street, where they shouldn’t be in the first place
There is also a side walk that already borders the course that they don’t use.
Given a choice, I prefer to get hit by a golf ball than a Mercedes Benz . . . or a stealthy Tesla.
There are perfectly good sidewalks on Greenway Drive. We walk on the sidewalks and feel safe. Walking along the golf course is not safe because you can get hit with a golf ball. Things are expensive enough and now you want to spend more money when there are good sidewalks.
Enforcement is needed. Ponce and Miracle Mile are also cases where pedestrians must navigate sidewalks with, in spite of city code that expressly prohibits them, scooters, bikes and skateboards. And now add robots to that mix. Walking is becoming increasingly dangerous with no effective measures or enforcement to protect pedestrian’s rights.
It unfortunately takes a tragedy for the city to react. It is not just drivers, often driving distractedly or too fast for conditions, who are unsafe. People on foot, whether running or walking, often dogs in tow, are on the street, not the sidewalk, frequently in the dark without light/reflective clothing. Bicyclists ride two-abreast, making it difficult for cars to get around them when faced with oncoming traffic. And it does not help matters that the city, in an effort to insulate itself from liability years ago, removed the “No walking in the roadway” signs that ran the perimeter of the golf course. The city took care of itself, but has consistently turned a deaf ear to those of us who have complained for years about unsafe conditions.
Over ten years I drove my four kids down North Greenway, just from Madrid to Granada, and then south on Granada, to get to Coral Gables High School, and it was always a challenge, especially when it was dark, with pedestrians, golfers, joggers and bicyclists. The city, including the mayor and commissioners, never acknowledged my complaints. Now two people with brain damage has changed their tune. Too little too late.
This is part of a bigger problem, which is that the city neither listens to us nor proactively does what is needed to make things safer. Residents are also part of the problem. They want more sidewalks and bike lanes, but, in true NIMBY fashion, only in other people’s neighborhoods, selfishly opposing them in their own neighborhoods. I’ve advocated for sidewalks and bike lanes on Alhambra, Granada and other high-traffic areas of North Gables, but am told residents don’t want them, lest they encourage people to come to their neighborhoods.
The city should install bike lanes and sidewalks on every major roadway in Coral Gables, especially with so much money being spent on the Underline and the lack of parking at major attractions like Salvador Park and Venetian Pool. People should be encouraged to safely walk and bike more, not less.
There is already a sidewalk there where joggers should be running on. A new path on the golf course side would take away from it and expose joggers to being hit with golf balls. I would become more park-like and less of a golf course. What would be next, a nice high-rise in the middle of it that keeps lining the pockets of the influential developer friends who have so much sway at City Hall? Also, making North and South Greenway into one-way streets is a really bad idea. It would create more traffic in adjacent streets as the number of parallel routes is reduced, and would allow drivers to go even faster, since there would not be vehicles coming in the opposite direction that would force the drivers to be more careful and hit the brakes…
Put up a sign – Warning: this is not a walking / running path! Use the sidewalk to walk or run!
There is no need for any type of walking path on a GOLF COURSE for people to get hit with a ball for God’s sake! This is absurd!
Ditto to all who are stating that pedestrians should use the sidewalk. That would immediately alleviate the situation.
Fix the sidewalks! Enforce traffic laws — vehicular speed on Greenways is ridiculous!
At least, paint solid, double yellow lines prohibiting passing. Curb swales and golf course?
Let us not forget that the course is public property and thus both walkers and golfers have equal access to the course.. need to find ways to have both share the same course and ways of protecting both distinct users
A golf course is not meant to be a joggers’ path. Making a track around it is not the answer. Old cities can not accomodate all peoples’s different wishes upon existing structures. Coral Gables has many parks and beautiful streets where people can walk without trying to accommodate different uses to unsuitable places.
I agree with all the comments about the Granada Golf Course NOT being a jogging, walking path. Not only can you be hit by golf balls, but most people walk or run in the road as if it belongs to them and cars should not even be there. For 17 years I was a volunteer at the Troop 7 Boy Scout Cabin at 1107 South Greenway Drive and I always wondered why people were allowed to walk, jog, ride bikes, walk dogs and even have strollers in the road at the edge of the course? It has long been one of my pet peeves and I retired from the scout troop back in 2011! So that is how long this has been allowed to go on. Over 31 years. The Granada Golf Course is NOT A PARK! There are sidewalks across the street in front of the homes and people refuse to use them. Why? It is odd to see someone walking on the sidewalk in this area.
It is unfortunate that a tragedy had to occur before this issue was addressed. I am actually surprised there has not been a tragedy before this considering it has been going on since at least 1994 (that I can personally attest to).
Tickets and fines should be handed out to pedestrians in order for this practice to stop. People should be directed to Country Club Prado where you have a nice wide safe area in the middle that can easily be used as a “linear park” for these purposes.
I am truly sorry that anybody was hit by a car (particularly a hit-and-run). But sidewalks should be used to walk or run around the Granada golf course. Or alternatively, use Country Club Prado which is one way if you have to run on the street (and run facing traffic so you do not have to play Frogger with cars coming up behind you and please teach your children that lesson since it was never taught to you). I like the paved area around the Granada golf course 2nd green and on the 3rd fairway because the trees provide some protection for golf balls. As to the golf, you are still at risk of being hit by a golf ball if you are walking on the sidewalk on North or South Greenway when the course is open – but the risk is much less if you are on the sidewalk and not the golf course. I think there are better ways to spend the City’s money including paving sidewalks and on safety programs to get residents to walk or run on those sidewalks.
Under section 316.130(3), Fla. Stat., pedestrians are not supposed to be in the street where a sidewalk is available.
We can’t keep talking about it, Lago says, but he was very silent several years ago when a cyclist ran into a jogger and she died. Yes, it’s been a problem for the last 13 years that you’ve been on the commission, dude. Also, just ask for a study and let the professionals figure it out.
“Invasive Australian Pines” ? They’ve been in South Florida for over a century.
Humans are a far more environmentally destructive species.
I really like the idea of converting North and S Greenway into one-way roads— too many non-residents are cutting through our neighborhood.
Fix the sidewalks around the course, make it run/walk friendly with low lighting around it (for the evening and early morning residents). Make the side walk worth of the city beautiful (and healthy), while keeping the residents safe.
I have been a resident of the City for 30 years. I am also an avid runner, I run at least 20 miles/week. The Granada golf course has been part of my family’s walking/running route for this long. The proposed designated rubberized path on the golf courses’ perimeter is the solution to keep both pedestrians and runners safe. It will keep them safe from cars, cyclists, and moldy, slippery and uneven (in height) sidewalks, that are equally as hazardous. I am an early bird runner, I arrive at the golf course well before sunrise. I agree with some of the other comments about the lighting around the golf course. There is currently one section on the west side of the golf course where there are non-functional light fixtures. Not only is lighting important for pedestrian/runner visibility, but also for ground pot holes and uneven surfaces alerts. I run against traffic on the street on the perimeter of the golf course. In order to “dodge” the cars that come at me (sometimes over speed limit) I have to transition to the uneven grass surface and avoid numerous holes on the streets. This becomes a balancing act on me and my ankles. An immediate solution is to start by having more police presence and making sure that the street lights are ALL functioning. This will keep people safe around the golf course, no matter how they are getting around it, and give time to the City to plan a safe, effective running path.