The Town of Surfside is reimagining Flamingo Garden Park with an exciting landscaping expansion funded by the 2025 Viva Florida Landscape Demonstration Garden gran, spearheaded by Commissioner Vildostegui. This project will introduce a variety of Florida native wildflowers and plants, including beach verbena (Glandularia maritima), Jamaican caper (Quadrella cynophallophora), and American beautyberry (Callicarpa americana).
The expanded plantings are designed to showcase the ecological benefits of native flora in urban environments, while providing valuable habitat for pollinators and local wildlife. Surfside’s location on a barrier island gives the Town a unique opportunity to model resilient, sustainable coastal landscaping practices that both educate and inspire residents.
“The Flamingo Garden Park project highlights Surfside’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship,” said Town Manager Mark Blumstein. “By incorporating native plants, we not only beautify our public spaces but also support local wildlife and create a living example of how small urban gardens can make a big ecological impact.”
Currently, Flamingo Garden Park is a favorite spot for walkers and cyclists, offering a pergola, bench, lending library, and sculpture. With the new native plantings, the park will become a demonstration site for environmentally conscious landscaping, showing how urban gardens can thrive while preserving Florida’s natural heritage.
"Mondays with the Manager" is a Town of Surfside video series in which Manager Mark Blumstein highlights initiatives, projects, and programs that enhance residents’ quality of life. In this episode, viewers can learn more about the park expansion, its environmental benefits, and how the community can get involved in supporting Surfside’s green spaces.