Miami Lakes

The development was constructed by Sengra (now the Graham Companies) beginning in 1962, on land formerly owned by Florida State Senator Ernest “Cap” Graham. The Grahams stated for many years that it would be a 30-year development, but they are still developing to this day.

The original Miami Lakes development, east of the Palmetto Expressway, was master planned by Lester Collins with curving tree-shaded roadways and numerous curving lakes, which are unusual compared to most surrounding areas with their treeless streets on a square grid and rectangular lakes. This original development, which is on the east side of the more recently designated Town of Miami Lakes, has neighborhood shopping centers, tot-lot parks, and a town center named Main Street. A significant portion of Miami Lakes is still owned by the Grahams, mostly apartment buildings, shopping centers, office buildings, and still undeveloped land. The town is an early model of the New Urbanism movement with shopping and services located in walking distance of residences as well as narrow walkable streets and plenty of neighborhood parks.

When it incorporated in December 2000, the Town of Miami Lakes became the 31st municipality in Miami-Dade County. Known as one of the youngest cities in the County, Miami Lakes is home to approximately 30,000 residents and more than 1,100 businesses.

The Master Plan began over 50 years ago, when the Graham family began development of what was their dairy farm. Unlike many cities and towns created during the early 1960s, the Grahams decided to create a master plan for the city that would allow for decades of growth, construction, and changing market conditions. Lester Collins, former Dean of the Harvard School of Architecture, was enlisted to create a Master Plan for the area that would become the center of Miami Lakes. Collins laid the foundation for an integrated community, including residential, commercial, industrial and mixed uses.

Former U.S. Senator Bob Graham, younger half brother of family patriarch William “Bill” Graham, is one of the owners, and the late publisher of the Washington Post, Katharine Graham, had a share by marriage. On December 5, 2000, Miami Lakes voted to become an incorporated town.

The Town of Miami Lakes has a unique indoor Veteran’s Memorial located at the Royal Oaks Park Community Center. The memorial is a 50-foot-long mural that features a combination of the following media: two digitized paintings of military scenes throughout U.S. history, wood carvings, stained glass, and hand-made glass mosaics molded from leaves of Miami Lakes’ trees. The centerpiece of the artwork consists of the seals from each of the US military service branches and the POW/MIA seal. The memorial was inaugurated on Memorial Day of 2011. The artists are Alfred Darmanin and Michelle Stecco.

The Veterans Memorial entitled “V is for Veterans” was unveiled in front of Miami Lakes Town Hall on Sept. 4, 2014. The artwork was created by Artist Stephanie Jaffe Werner to honor all five of the United States Military Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps and Coast Guard.

Public Schools

Miami-Dade County Public Schools serves Miami Lakes.

• Miami Lakes K-8 Center, located in south central Miami lakes, serves the eastern half of the town (east and south of SR 826).
• Barbara Goleman High School, located in extreme western Miami Lakes, and Bob Graham Education Center, located in western Miami Lakes, serve the western half of the town (west of SR 826).
• Miami Lakes Middle School, located in front of Our Lady of the Lakes private school.
• Hialeah-Miami Lakes Senior High School located on NW 67th Ave (West 12th Ave in Hialeah)

Magnet/Vocational Schools

Miami Lakes Educational Center, located on NW 57th Avenue (Red Road).

Private Schools

• Catholic
  • Our Lady of the Lakes.
• Non-Denominational Christian
  • Dade-Christian (located outside the north entrance to Miami Lakes)

Since its incorporation in 2000, the Town of Miami Lakes operates under a Council-Manager form of government. The Council-manager system combines the strong leadership of elected officials with the strong managerial experience of an appointed Town Manager.

The Mayor’s seat is elected at-large for a four-year term. As defined in the Town’s Charter, the Mayor shall preside at meetings of the Council and be a voting member of the Council. The Town Council is vested with all legislative powers of the Town. The Council consists of the Mayor and six members.

Current council members:

Mayor Manny Cid

Vice Mayor Nelson Rodriguez -Seat 1

Councilmember Seat 2-Jeffrey Rodriguez

Councilmember Seat 3-Marilyn Ruano

Council member Seat 4-Josh Dieguez

Councilmember Seat 5-Luis Collazo

Councilmember Seat 6-Carlos O. Alvarez

The Town of Miami Lakes held a grand opening and ribbon-cutting for their new Town Hall on April 23, 2013, located at the east end of Main Street.

On October 5, 2010, Nelson Hernandez became the youngest council member elected to the Miami Lakes Town Council at the age of 24 since the town incorporated in 2000.

The Miami-Dade Police Department operates the Northwest District Station in Miami Lakes. The station provides law enforcement services to Miami Lakes.

The Miami-Dade Fire Rescue operates Station 1 Miami Lakes & Station 64 Miami Lakes West.