By Coral Gables Gazette staff

The City of Coral Gables officially opened its newest park on March 14, with a ceremony attended by numerous city officials and dignitaries who spoke to the importance of its namesake and his contributions to South Florida.

Formerly known as Blue Road Open Space Park, the David Lawrence Jr. and Family Park is located at 757 Blue Road, at the intersection of Blue Road and the Coral Gables Canal. Designed as a neighborhood-focused space, the park does not include public parking, meaning it is intended primarily for nearby residents and, eventually, boaters accessing it from the water. It is the latest park to open in the city and the second in recent years to be named after a living resident.

A career in journalism, then a life in service to children

The park honors David Lawrence Jr., whose career spans both journalism and decades of child advocacy. Lawrence first rose to prominence as publisher of the Miami Herald during the 1980s and 1990s, a period in which the newspaper earned five Pulitzer Prizes.

In the years that followed, Lawrence turned his focus to early childhood education and children’s welfare, helping to establish The Children’s Trust in 2002 and serving as its founding chair. He later helped launch The Children’s Movement of Florida, continuing his push to expand access to early learning and family support services statewide.

“David Lawrence Jr. is widely known as a distinguished journalist… but what many of us know just as well is the extraordinary second chapter of his life. His tireless advocacy for children,” Mayor Vince Lago said during the ceremony. “Because of his work, countless children across Florida have had greater opportunities to learn, grow and succeed.”

A park built for the waterway — and the neighborhood

The park itself reflects that mission. Completed as part of Phase 1 improvements to a former canal maintenance site, it includes a playground and direct access to the waterway. Future plans call for the installation of a small dock, pending permits, which would expand access for boaters and further connect residents to the city’s canal system.

A playground dedicated to twin granddaughters lost in the Texas floods

Saturday’s ceremony also included remarks from Daniella Levine Cava and other local officials, followed by a ribbon cutting, plaque unveiling, and dedication of the park’s playground.

The playground carries special significance for the Lawrence family. It is dedicated to the twin granddaughters of David and Roberta Lawrence, Hanna and Rebecca, who died in last year’s Mystic Camp floods in Texas.

“Their passing was a heartbreaking loss for the Lawrence family and for all who knew them,” Lago said. “But in this place, their memory will also live in something joyful.”

He added that the space would become a place where “children will come to climb, laugh, run and play,” creating a living tribute that reflects the joy the twins brought to those around them. “I am certain that Hanna and Rebecca would have loved that,” he said.

Lago said the idea to name the park after Lawrence stemmed from a desire to recognize not only his professional accomplishments, but his lifelong commitment to improving the lives of children and families.

“When I proposed naming this park in Dave’s honor, it felt fitting… because his life’s work has always been about giving children the opportunity to thrive,” Lago said.

With its opening, the park adds to the city’s growing network of neighborhood green spaces while also reinforcing Coral Gables’ connection to its waterways – pairing recreation, remembrance, and community in a single waterfront setting.