Hialeah Park

[tombarnes]

Hialeah Park in Grave Danger of Demolition

The owner of Hialeah Park, one of South Florida's more unusual landmarks, has been trying to keep it afloat for years. Its closiure in 2002 has brought only deterioration and weeds. Hurricane Wilma added further insult to injury. Now, the park is choked with weeds and its impressive clubhouse, the Flamingo Pavilion, is dark. Citing costs of over $125,000 per year to feed the flamingos and pay the taxes and insurance, the owner is sorely tempted by offers to pave the park with houses, condos and shopping malls. I hope this won't be the end, but the state legislature will have to resurrect the license for the park if this is to happen. The current climate in the legislature does not portend much more than the likely possibility that they will stay out of the fray. I hope that something can be done to save the place where Seabiscuit, Citation and Seattle Slew once graced the track.

The Sun Herald