Virginia Key Beach Park Trust: Governance Transition and Path Forward

Location: Virginia Key, Miami, Florida 

Project Type: Institutional governance update and organizational continuity 

Status: Transition underway; ongoing operations and community engagement 

Primary Agencies/Stakeholders: Virginia Key Beach Park Trust; City of Miami Commission; City of Miami District 5 (Commission Chairwoman Christine King); LORD Cultural Resources

Overview

In October 2022, the City of Miami Commission voted 4–1 to remove the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust's Board of Trustees, replacing them with the City Commission itself and two additional appointees from District 5. Despite this governance restructuring, the park has remained open and fully operational. The Trust's core mission — to preserve the cultural history and unique environment of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park — remains unchanged, and staff have continued day-to-day maintenance and operations without interruption.

 

Scope & Intent

This update addresses the institutional transition at the Trust and affirms the organization's commitment to continuity of mission and community service. The focus is on maintaining public confidence in the park, sustaining its operational functions, and ensuring that the histories of the African diaspora connected to the site are preserved and carried forward. The Trust has emphasized that the stories surrounding the park's origins — from its role as a beach for Miami's Black community during segregation, to the formation of the Civil Rights Task Force and the original Trust — will not be lost through this governance change.

Key Components

• Removal of the Trust's Board of Trustees by the City of Miami Commission on October 13, 2022, and replacement with Commission members and District 5 appointees

• Continued daily park operations and maintenance by Trust staff throughout the transition

• Reaffirmation of the Trust's mission to preserve the park's cultural, historical, and environmental significance

• Engagement of design firm LORD Cultural Resources to gather stakeholder perspectives

• Forthcoming community workshops to shape the park's path forward

Process & Status

As of November 2022, the park remained open and staff continued operating under the Trust's established mission. Executive Director Guy Forchion committed to working alongside community leaders, beachgoers, partners, and the City Commission to ensure the park's preservation. LORD Cultural Resources attended stakeholder sessions and additional community workshops were announced as next steps in the governance and planning process.

Reference Context

This entry is drawn from a November 2022 organizational update published by the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust, authored by Executive Director Guy Forchion. It documents a pivotal moment in the Trust's governance history and sets the tone for continued community-centered stewardship of a nationally significant historic site.