Preserving history means more than safeguarding buildings — it also means protecting the landscapes that shaped our community’s story. The old Dade County Nursery at West Matheson Hammock Park is one such treasure, significant for both its role in Miami-Dade County’s history and its location within one of the richest Rockland hammocks in South Florida.
With funding from a State of Florida grant, Miami-Dade County Parks engaged Richard Heisenbottle Architects to prepare a Historic Structure Report for the “West Matheson Greenhouse.” Through extensive research, the team discovered that the nursery complex — encompassing both its buildings and landscape — is a designed cultural landscape created by renowned landscape architect William Lyman Phillips. It is closely tied to early Depression-era Roadside Beautification Programs and New Deal work initiatives, making it a vital piece of the county’s park development history.
The resulting report provides a clear roadmap for restoration and future use, ensuring the preservation of this rare historic landscape for generations to come. Dade Heritage Trust congratulates Richard Heisenbottle Architects and Miami-Dade County Parks for their outstanding work in documenting and protecting one of South Florida’s most culturally and environmentally significant sites.
Accepting the award were Richard Heisenbottle, Nina L. Caruso, Stephanie Michell, Ricardo Lopez, Caitlin Garner, and Mary Wissinger, along with Maria Nardi and Carlos Lopez from Miami-Dade Parks.