Agriculture and the Redland · place wrecked by Andrew, rebuilt
Fruit and Spice Park
county tropical botanical park · Redland
- Founded or opened
- 1944
- Community
- The Redland · historical or unincorporated community
- Status as of 11 September 2026
- open
- Historical state
- rebuilt or replaced
- Connections
- 5 edges, 5 distinct neighbours · betweenness 0.018 (rank 30 of 371) · moves and capital only 0.000 (rank 202)
- Confidence
- High · sources: [A11], [A12], [A13], [A18] (register)
The county buys 18 acres in the Redland from 1935 and opens the park in 1944 on the vision of Mary Calkins Heinlein, with funding secured by County Commissioner Preston B. Bird and support from parks director A. D. Barnes. Hurricane Andrew devastates the gardens, the 1906 schoolhouse and the 1902 Bauer Mitchell house in 1992; rebuilding with FEMA funds is completed by 2002. The park now covers 37 acres at 24801 SW 187th Avenue with more than 500 varieties of fruit, spice and nut plants and hosts the Redland International Orchid Festival.
Detail: 24801 SW 187th Ave, 37 acres; renamed Preston B. Bird and Mary Heinlein Fruit and Spice Park in 1980
Connections
Moves, founders, developers
- founded byMary Calkins HeinleinVision of the park and first superintendent to 19591944
Plans, funding, partners
- planned byMiami-Dade Parks, Recreation and Open SpacesCounty park department owns and operates the park1944 to present
- funded byA. D. BarnesParks director supports the park's creation1944
- funded byPreston B. BirdCounty commissioner secures the funding1944
Anchors, connections, hosting
- hosted atThe RedlandHosts the Redland International Orchid Festival1944 to present
- hostsRedland Riot Road RallyeRally stop1994 to present
Located
- located inThe Redland24801 SW 187th Avenue1944 to present