IV 

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 


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•HRES 361 IH 

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 


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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 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) recognizes the extraordinary historical, cul3 tural, and recreational significance of Historic Vir4 ginia Key Beach Park of Miami, Florida; 

5 (2) recommits its attempt to protect and pre6 serve American history through national parks and 

7 historic sites; 

8 (3) acknowledges the significance of the Afri9 can-American community’s struggle for equality 

10 through its collaborative efforts to preserve this his11 toric site; and 

12 (4) affirms its desire and commitment to sup13 port and fund the operations of Historic Virginia 

14 Key Beach Park and the historical museum soon to 

15 be constructed through an endowment. 

Æ 


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