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[Congressional Bills 111th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 361 Introduced in House (IH)]

111th CONGRESS
  1st Session
H. RES. 361

Recognizing the historical significance of Historic Virginia Key Beach 
                        Park of Miami, Florida.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             April 23, 2009

  Ms. Ros-Lehtinen (for herself, Mr. Meek of Florida, Mr. Hastings of 
    Florida, and Mr. Lincoln Diaz-Balart of Florida) submitted the 
 following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Natural 
                               Resources

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
Recognizing the historical significance of Historic Virginia Key Beach 
                        Park of Miami, Florida.

Whereas in the early 1900s, Historic Virginia Key Beach Park of Miami, Florida, 
        was frequented by African-American and Caribbean settlers arriving by 
        ferry from mainland South Florida;
Whereas in the summer of 1945, on the beach at Baker's Haulover County Park, a 
        group of black men led by then attorney Lawson E. Thomas staged a 
        protest against the unjust segregation laws that prohibited black people 
        from using the public beaches in South Florida;
Whereas in response to the protest, county officials designated Virginia Key 
        Beach Park as the ``Colored Beach'', a segregated beach site for the 
        African-American community which opened on August 1, 1945;
Whereas, even after civil rights laws opened all the public beaches in South 
        Florida to people of all races and ethnicities, Virginia Key Beach Park 
        remained a popular destination for many in the African-American 
        community for several decades;
Whereas in 1979, the site was transferred from the county to the City of Miami 
        with the stipulation that the beach be kept open and maintained as a 
        public park and recreation area;
Whereas in 1982, citing the high cost of maintenance and operations, the City of 
        Miami closed Virginia Key Beach Park shortly after assuming its 
        responsibility;
Whereas in 1990, the City of Miami Commission responded to citizen outcry and 
        established the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust (hereafter referred to as 
        the ``Trust'') to restore, reopen, and preserve the site for public use;
Whereas the late M. Athalie Range, an African-American community leader and the 
        first woman to sit on the City of Miami Commission, worked with the 
        community to save Virginia Key Beach Park from the grasp of developers, 
        and deliver it back to the people. She lobbied to place the property on 
        the National Register of Historic Landmarks, spearheaded funding for a 
        multi-billion dollar restoration program, and planned a new museum/
        cultural center that would one day, impart the message of social 
        equality and responsible citizenry for future generations;
Whereas in June 2002, the Trust successfully petitioned Federal and State 
        government officials to place the site on the National Register of 
        Historic Places and give it a Florida Historical Marker;
Whereas in 2003, the Dade Community Foundation established the Historic Virginia 
        Key Beach Park Trust Fund to collect charitable donations to help 
        restore and preserve the park; and
Whereas on February 22, 2008, after extensive renovation by the Trust, Historic 
        Virginia Key Beach Park celebrated its grand re-opening for public use 
        by the entire community with a ribbon cutting ceremony and community 
        concert: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) recognizes the extraordinary historical, cultural, and 
        recreational significance of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park 
        of Miami, Florida;
            (2) recommits its attempt to protect and preserve American 
        history through national parks and historic sites;
            (3) acknowledges the significance of the African-American 
        community's struggle for equality through its collaborative 
        efforts to preserve this historic site; and
            (4) affirms its desire and commitment to support and fund 
        the operations of Historic Virginia Key Beach Park and the 
        historical museum soon to be constructed through an endowment.
                                 <all>
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