The OLD Save Historic Hialeah Park from Development Gallery - click on image to view Photo Gallery by Don Boyd at pbase.com

The OLD Save Historic Hialeah Park from Development Gallery - click on image to view

Hialeah Park lost their racing license in 2001 and has not generated any income for owner John Brunetti in years. Consequently Mr. Brunetti will be seeking to develop the historic race track with mixed residential and business use.

Fortunately a group of people formed Citizens to Save Hialeah Park and their contact information is below. If you are disgusted and fed up with everything historical in South Florida being paved over or built upon, usually without any historical markers to indicate what was once there, then please contact Alex or Millie to find out how you can help them out. It would be a real shame and injustice to former and current residents to see such a historical beautiful jewel of a park in such a densely populated area be developed into even more businesses and residences.

Alex Fuentes, Citizens to Save Hialeah Park
Alex's e-mail is: Hialeah2200@aol.com and his websites are: < http://www.myspace.com/savehialeahpark and < http://www.SaveHialeahPark.com

Millie Herrera, Hialeah High class of 1978 - herrera101@aol.com

Please feel free to leave your comments below if you have something worthwhile to contribute. Please click on the below image to read the latest news stories concerning Hialeah Park and the efforts to save it from development.

Save Historic Hialeah Park from development - news story links regarding Hialeah Park

comment |

kathydaly		14-Nov-2015 08:44
Hialeah Park: Now & Forever https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T41dVcUS888

Ann Berletich		07-Jun-2010 10:30
Driving down the Royal Palm lined roads into Hialeah Park was a beautiful experience. The Banyan Trees in the park were a sight to be seen. The memories I have of the beauty resonate in my mind! To build more apartments or businesses in that area, which is already packed full would be shameful. I think we should save Hialeah for all time! In memory of what is beauty!!!

radio lady		13-Feb-2010 08:15
I worked for a radio station in the 60s and 70s, and used my press pass to get up in the press box at the old Hialeah Park, located up a combination of tiny elevators and narrow, winding stairs on the very top of the grandstand. it was a different world up there, with the old time race reporters and their typewriters clacking away, the race announcer's booth projecting out in front to the roofline, all the old timers with their cigars, holding down their favorite broken down club chairs and watching the action from up there all afternoon, characters straight out of Damon Runyon. They had their own betting windows up there, and a very, very popular bar, and the cigar smoke was thicker than you could believe. I remember especially being up there on Flamingo Days, when everyone who was anyone in racing journalism showed up. Back in those days, they never had many females up there, much less young ones in miniskirts, so I was something of a novelty. Needless to say, I had lots of voluteers to be my mentor! It was a world apart, something I'm sure not many people are left who ever experienced. I'll never forget it.

Jim Futch		09-Dec-2009 23:25
My name is Jim Futch and I grew up at 18th Street and 3rd Ave. I am 73 years old now and living in Phoenix, Arizona. My sister Carolyn Koons of Miami Lakes sent me this information. I can remember as a young boy the limo's parked all along 3rd Ave and the side streets, with the chauffeurs waiting for hours for the announcer to call them to come and pick up their bosses. All the cars were black back then in the forties. I sincerely want to thank all of you who are working on keeping the developers away permanently.

Don Boyd		03-Nov-2009 21:05
Here's a video to a link on CBS4 about the rush efforts underway to get Hialeah Park ready for quarter horse racing on November 28th: http://cbs4.com/video/?id=85641@wfor.dayport.com Here's the link to a Herald story about Hialeah Park reopening for quarter horse racing on November 28th: http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1305770.html Don

Don Boyd		18-May-2009 15:30
And there's more information on what the state legislature has done for Hialeah Park in an article about the Dade Delegation getting behind the issue and really working for it. http://www.miamiherald.com/news/legislature/story/1052237.html

Don Boyd		08-May-2009 14:34
It looks like Hialeah Park will be saved under new state legislation that will grant Hialeah the rights to run quarter horse racing and have cards rooms, and after two years of racing they can offer Las Vegas-style slot machines. The full story is at:http://www.miamiherald.com/486/story/1036030.html

Suzanne		19-Jan-2009 01:22
I saw my first concert there ... Sonny and Cher and they came in by helicopter! I had gone door to door collecting money for Unicef (I think that was the charity) and collected enough to get to go to the concert for free.

Guest		18-Jan-2009 05:14
Hialeah Race Track was all the rage as a kid growing up in Miami Springs. They had the nicest tours that you could take through the park and the grandstands. They also had this one attraction called the "Sunken Ship" which had series of salt water aquariums in it with a old sponge divers outfit as one of their displays. In later years I met the man who had designed and built that attraction who also grew up in Miami. Joe Turner Jr. also had a business called ( Exotic Aquaria) customizing & maintaining salt water aquariums nationally and internationally.

paul cole		25-Dec-2008 22:55
I wonder how many people knew that Hialeah Race Track was first a greyhouind track and a Hi Li fronton? I have post cards of the greyhound track and a Hi Li program from 1925, possibly the only one to survive.

Robbin P. Learned		05-Sep-2008 05:07
Hi, I'm Robbin Learned, and I Have Lived in Hialeah, All Of My Life, Over 57 1/2 years now, and I Agree with You, The Buildings, and Grounds, of Hialeah Park, Should Be Left, and Preserved. It's Such A Beautiful Place, and it's what put Hialeah on the Map. Back in 1967, and 1968, I worked At Hialeah Park, in The Barns,- Stables Area, As A Hot Walker. I Walked The Race Horses Around A Ring, to cool them Down, after they Exercised, Early in the Morning, and after they Ran in Afternoon Races. And My Mom And Dad, and My Grandma, Went to The Races at the Track, for many years, and They Loved Hialeah Park. So I Share Your Sentiments, and I Wish you Lots Of Luck, in Trying To Save Hialeah Park. Sincerely, Robbin P. Learned.

ENRIQUE LOPEZ		08-Mar-2008 03:30
SAVE THIS WOUNDERFUL PARK. ALL THE HISTORIC LANDMARKS SEEM TO BE GOING TO THE WRECKING BALL. WE NEED TO SAVE THIS ONE. THINGS GONE ARE THE SPEEDWAY,MIAMI STADIUM, ORANGEBOWL, THE DRIVE IN ON BIRD AND SO MANY MORE. LETS SAVE ARE LANDMRKS.

Alex Fuentes		07-Mar-2008 20:08
I wanted to thank Don personally on behalf of The Citizens to Save Hialeah Park for giving us this privileged space on this most wonderful site. I have loved this testament to S. Florida history ever since the very first time I set eyes on it, and believe me it’s hard to take my eyes off of the intriguing B&W photos and testimonies of yesteryear. Our history is in grave danger; for the sake of our heritage please continue to do what you are doing. Thank you so much Don for your work in keeping our history alive. Alex Fuentes Save Hialeah Park www.savehialeapark.com www.myspace.com/savehialeahpark

click on thumbnails for full image

Type your message and click Add Comment

It is best to login or register first but you may post as a guest. Enter an optional name and contact email address. Name
Name Email
help	private comment