Continued Leadership in Smart Growth and Sustainable Parks Development

Published on December 10, 2025

The Smart Growth Partnership celebrated a major milestone on December 4, 2025, hosting its Smart Growth Excellence Awards Banquet in Fort Lauderdale to mark 20 years of leadership, legacy, and lasting community impact. Among the voices reflecting on the region’s progress was the City of Doral, invited to share how its 2021 Smart Growth Excellence Award laid the foundation for four years of remarkable growth in sustainable parks development.

From 2021 Award Winner to 2025 Regional Leader

Doral first earned Smart Growth Excellence recognition in 2021 for the Nature and Recreation Center at Doral Glades Park, a benchmark project rooted in environmental stewardship and high-performance design. At the time, the facility already demonstrated the city’s commitment to reducing energy consumption, preserving natural landscapes, and prioritizing community wellness.

In her remarks at this year’s banquet, Nature and Conservation Coordinator Christina Carmona highlighted the accomplishments that earned Doral this recognition—followed by Dulce Pantaleón, who spoke on the city’s commitment to conservation and the community partnerships that make this work possible.

• A building design that reduces energy consumption by nearly 60%
• Exclusive LED lighting and passive design strategies
• Preservation of native vegetation and perimeter trees
• Water-conserving irrigation systems and sensor-controlled water features
• Low- and no-VOC interior materials to protect community health

The 9,000-square-foot center continues to thrive as a hub for residents, students, and nature lovers—yet its strength lies in how it sparked a citywide movement toward sustainable planning.

A Citywide Commitment to Smart Growth

Since receiving the award, Doral has expanded its conservation and sustainability efforts across its growing parks system:

• Creation of the Nature and Conservation Coordinator position, dedicated to deepening environmental education and community engagement
• Launch of expanded nature-based programs—from school field trips to intergenerational activities like “My Doll & Me Nature Walk and Tea Parties”
• Development of an edible community garden at Doral Glades
• Continued emphasis on environmentally conscious park design in new projects citywide

At White Course Park, a rain-barrel irrigation system captures and stores rainwater, blending it with municipal well water only when necessary—a model for efficient landscape management in South Florida.

At Doral Central Park, the City’s largest public investment to date, sustainability is integrated into every aspect of construction: energy-efficient materials, LED lighting with occupancy sensors, advanced water conservation measures, and environmentally responsible building practices.

Doral’s Parks as a Blueprint for the Region

Today, in 2025, Doral’s parks system is recognized as a regional model for smart, sustainable growth, balancing recreation, environmental stewardship, and long-term resiliency. The city’s approach demonstrates that smart growth is not a one-time achievement but a philosophy guiding every investment—from nature programming to infrastructure design.

Learn More About Doral’s Award-Winning Sustainability Efforts

Explore the Smart Growth Partnership’s feature on Doral Glades Park and the project that helped shape Doral’s citywide approach to smart, sustainable growth: smartgrowthpartnership.org/projects/doral-glades-park