City Of Miami Approves $5 Million Enhancement Plan For Kirk Munroe Park And Fuller Street In Coconut Grove

The City of Miami has approved final design plans for a $5 million improvement project at Kirk Munroe Park and Fuller Street in Coconut Grove. The initiative is being undertaken through a public-private partnership between the City of Miami and Allen Morris Co., with architectural design led by Portuondo Perotti Architects and landscape architecture by Naturalficial. The improvements will introduce new recreational facilities, pedestrian infrastructure, native landscaping, and public gathering spaces while preserving the park’s historic character. Construction is scheduled to begin in January 2027, with completion anticipated in the first quarter of 2028.

The project represents one of the most substantial investments in Kirk Munroe Park in decades, with funding provided by both public and private sources. The City of Miami has committed $3 million through its Capital Improvements Plan under an initiative led by District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo, while Allen Morris Co. will contribute an additional $2 million through public benefit contributions. Allen Morris Co. will serve as development manager, overseeing design, permitting, and construction in coordination with the City.

Credit: Allen Morris Co.

The improvements are intended to strengthen pedestrian connections between Kirk Munroe Park, Fuller Street, Coconut Grove Elementary School, Coconut Grove Village, and the surrounding residential and commercial areas. The park will remain publicly owned and operated by the City of Miami, with continued access for residents and visitors.

Named after author, adventurer, and conservation advocate Kirk Munroe, who constructed the first tennis court in Miami-Dade County, the park has served as a recreational and civic space for generations of Coconut Grove residents. Its existing tennis facilities and proximity to Coconut Grove Elementary School have contributed to its longstanding role within the neighborhood.

Credit: Allen Morris Co.

The architectural and landscape plans are being developed under the direction of Rafael Portuondo, president of Portuondo Perotti Architects, and Andres Arcila, president of Naturalficial Landscape Architecture. The design incorporates elements of Coconut Grove’s tropical landscape and historic architectural character, including the preservation of mature trees and the use of native oolitic limestone throughout several architectural and seating features.

More than 100 new native trees are planned, along with native and adaptive plantings intended to expand the existing canopy and establish additional habitats for local wildlife. The landscape design also incorporates measures to improve environmental resilience and support biodiversity.

Credit: Allen Morris Co.

Naturalficial is developing the planting strategy with guidance from Dr. Chris Baraloto, director of the International Center for Tropical Botany and leader of the Land and Biodiversity Division at Florida International University’s Institute of Environment. Baraloto will also assist in developing an educational component focused on the park’s vegetation, ecology, and environmental characteristics.

The recreational improvements include refurbished tennis courts, two new tennis shelters, a tennis hitting wall, a playground, and an outdoor fitness area. Additional features will include an ornamental pavilion, a large open lawn, limestone seating areas, new pedestrian pathways, and improved circulation throughout the property.

Credit: Allen Morris Co.

Infrastructure upgrades will include enhanced lighting, upgraded pedestrian crossings, buried power lines, and accessibility improvements. A flexible outdoor gathering area is also planned to accommodate cultural performances, educational programming, wellness activities, civic events, and other community functions.

The project additionally includes a redesign of Fuller Street into a permanent curbless, pedestrian-oriented shared street. Planned improvements include new paving, landscaping, seating, and lighting, with a suspended paving system designed to protect existing mature trees and support root growth beneath the paved surfaces.

Credit: Allen Morris Co.

The Fuller Street improvements have been coordinated with existing businesses to maintain storefront access, accommodate outdoor seating, and support daily commercial operations. The redesigned streetscape is intended to improve pedestrian connectivity between the park, nearby restaurants and retail establishments, surrounding residential neighborhoods, and the Coconut Grove waterfront.

“The strongest communities are shaped by the quality of their public spaces. At Allen Morris Co., we believe successful development means investing beyond our buildings and creating places that strengthen the neighborhoods we are privileged to be part of. Kirk Munroe Park has served generations of Coconut Grove residents, and we are proud to partner with the City of Miami to help preserve its character while creating a more welcoming, resilient, and enduring public space for generations to come,” said W.A. Spencer Morris, President of Allen Morris Co.

Credit: Allen Morris Co.

“The enhancements to Kirk Munroe Park represent an important investment in one of Coconut Grove’s most treasured public spaces, improving accessibility, recreation, and environmental resilience while preserving its historic character,” said City of Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo. “I’m proud to be able to leverage our district’s capital funds with private investment to offer an even better park that will serve our residents and visitors for generations to come.”

“Kirk Munroe Park has always possessed a remarkable sense of place. Our vision is not to reinvent it, but to reveal and strengthen the qualities that already make it special. Inspired by Coconut Grove’s tropical landscape, historic character, and iconic banyan tree, the design creates spaces that feel timeless, connected to nature, and deeply rooted in the neighborhood’s identity,” said Rafael Portuondo, President of Portuondo Perotti Architects.

“The landscape has been designed to celebrate the ecological richness that has long defined Coconut Grove. By preserving mature trees, expanding the canopy, incorporating native and adaptive plant species, and creating habitat for local wildlife, we are building a resilient public landscape that supports biodiversity while offering residents a beautiful place to gather, explore, and connect with nature,” said Andres Arcila, President of Naturalficial Landscape Architecture.

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