Flagler Memorial Island
| Flagler Memorial Island | |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood of Miami Beach | |
Westward view of the island
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Miami-Dade County |
| City | Miami Beach |
| Government | |
| • Miami Beach Mayor | Philip Levine |
| • Miami-Dade County Commissioner | Audrey Edmonson |
| • House of Representatives | Cynthia A. Stafford (D) |
| • State Senate | Gwen Margolis (D) |
| • U.S. House | Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.007 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| • Land | 0.007 sq mi (0.02 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0 km2) 0% |
| Elevation | 3 ft (0.9 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 0 |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-05) |
| ZIP Code | 33139 |
| Area code(s) | 305, 786 |
Flagler Memorial Island is an uninhabited artificial island of South Beach in the city of Miami Beach in Biscayne Bay, Florida, United States. A 110-foot (34 m) high obelisk with allegorical sculptures at its base stands as a monument to Miami pioneer Henry M. Flagler, and was built in the center of the freshly constructed island in memory of Flagler, who died in 1913.
Unlike the Venetian Islands, the perfectly rounded shape of the memorial island was not protected by a sea wall. The powerful tidal flow from Government Cut, as well as hurricanes and other forces, have drastically altered its original shape. Exotic species such as Burma reed (Neyraudia reynaudiana), seaside-mahoe (Thespesia populnea) and beach naupaka (Scaevola taccada) have covered much of the island. In 1994 the Biscayne Bay Environmental Enhancement Trust Fund and the Florida Inland Navigation District used a $220,000 bond to build a clearing in the center of the island near the monument, where visitors play volleyball and light bonfires. The project also stabilized the shoreline with the installation of lime rock boulders, and created sand beaches and dunes for boaters to enjoy. Hurricane Wilma eroded away much of the beaches in the fall of 2005, leaving many of the picnic tables partially submerged.
Miami-Dade County maintains the island, including modest picnic facilities and trash cans, and is considering issuing a $250,000 bond to correct the monument's serious disrepair due to its exposure to harsh marine elements, vandalism and years of deferred maintenance. The City of Miami Beach completed a full restoration of the Henry Flagler Monument. It was illuminating at night but once again the lights are broken and the island is in disrepair. Although the island is unpopulated, it is considered a neighborhood in the City of Miami Beach.
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