The removal (finally!) of Australian pines on Rickenbacker Causeway is advancing. It is a very good project; improving the overused, under-maintained parks on Rickenbacker Causeway. The pines are invasive exotics and should be cut down and replaced with native shade trees. Is it worth the cost? Yes. The park beaches are heavily used by Miami-Dade residents. On the weekends, the parks reflect our county better than any other places I know of. Plus, these beaches are the only "free" ones in the entire county. I would be in favor of removing and replacing every Australian pine in the county. Get rid of 'em all. Thanks to the county commissioner whose district encompasses these invasive pests; Carlos Gimenez.
8 comments:
Judging by the Herald Articles, you would think the County should be tared and feathered for removing those trees.
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Most people don't understand invasive trees.
Others, like me, have selfish motives to like them. I windsurfed on that beach and every day I thanked God for the bit of shade that the trees offered. In my head, I didn't care that they were invasive because the shade was more important.
You are right about the democracy on the causeway Gimleteye. I once saw people setting up little white chairs for a wedding. It was very sweet. People show up at 8 or 9 and start to hold parking spaces for their family.
And, there was, at least when I frequented the beach, a rash of lewd and lascivious behavior (not by me).
While I agree that the Florida eco-system has suffered enough with invasive flora and fauna, there is nothing quite like the sound of the wind blowing thru an Australian pine...it immediately triggers a meditative mood in moi. I will miss them.
The new open view without the Pines is astonishing. Beautiful and clear to the South Bay. Love it! Keep the chainsaws coming.
Leave The Trees
Removing the only trees along the Rickenbacker Causeway because they are invasive is as wise as the relocation of Parrot Jungle to its new location. I suggest to the tree czars that they instead worry about the number of days each year our beaches have to close because of sewage contamination. Better yet, remove all those eyesore vendors along Rickenbacker that are multiplying faster than the Australian pines. Instead of worrying about the beach erosion the roots are causing, concern yourselves with the quality of life erosion. Leave the trees, cut the salaries. WILFRED R. LARA, Miami (MIAMI HERALD LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)
Kudos to the County for being proactive about exotic removal. As someone who grew up not knowing the difference between native and non-native trees, I could see how people would be upset, but the damage the Australian 'pine' has inflicted on our native habitats is too great to ignore. I often dream about an even more aggressive program to remove these and other exotic invasives from our neighborhoods and public spaces. More needs to be done, but this is a step in the right direction.
I liked those trees. Now what will protect the beach from storms?
I'm so glad they're gone!
I also noticed last Saturday that the beach along the causeway had been scraped or plowed or something and the beach was in the best shape I've seen it since I moved here in January. It's great that the county is taking interest in the free beach!
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