Miramar opens eco-friendly Vizcaya Park

After several years of delays, Miramar's Vizcaya Park is finally open. [ . . . ] One of the city's selling points for the park is its environmentally friendly construction that follows the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards. Signs throughout the park and inside the community center tout the energy savings that come from using the LEED standards, including a 50 percent reduction in potable water use and a 40 percent reduction in annual energy use. About 20 percent of the building is constructed with recycled materials. The introduction of environmentally sustainable construction excites City Commissioner Wayne Messam, a LEED-certified contractor. "We need to build facilities that cost less to construct and maintain," Messam said. The park is at 14200 SW 55th St. For more information, call 954-602-3167. Source: Chris Guanche, Forum Publishing Group, who can be reached at cguanche@tribune.com.