The Miami-Dade County Parks Division has renamed the Southridge Park to Coach Sam Burley Park with a particular ceremony to honor the longtime athletic coach, Southridge Excessive College instructor, and group chief.
“I’m thrilled to rejoice a unprecedented particular person whose affect extends far past the enjoying subject,” mentioned Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Renaming this park after Coach Sam Burley is a heartfelt tribute to a pacesetter who has devoted his life to shaping the longer term for our youth. His dedication to excellence in sports activities and training has impressed generations, and his Corridor of Fame Invitational Monitor and Area Meet showcases his unbelievable expertise inside our group.”
Coach Burley’s extraordinary teaching profession started in 1972 at Redland Jr. Excessive College, the place he led his cross-country and monitor and subject groups to quite a few county championships. At Miami Southridge Senior Excessive, Coach Burley additional cemented his legacy, guiding his groups to 6 state championships and shaping numerous lives by mentorship.
“Coach Sam Burley is famend on this group for his years of service to the youth by sports activities and thru his nonprofit, The Coach Sam Burley Basis,” mentioned Miami-Dade County District 9 Commissioner Kionee L. McGhee. “That’s the reason I used to be honored to sponsor the decision to rename Southridge Park to Coach Sam Burley Park, for his decades-long profession teaching youngsters proper right here at this park and subsequent door at Southridge Senior Excessive College.”
In recognition of his contributions, Coach Burley has earned prestigious accolades, together with Miami Herald All-Dade Coach of the 12 months, and inductions into a number of halls of fame, such because the Florida High School Activities Association Hall of Fame, the Florida Athletic Coaches Affiliation Corridor of Fame, and the Florida Monitor and Area Corridor of Fame. His impression continues by initiatives just like the Coach Sam Burley Corridor of Fame Invitational Monitor and Area Meet, providing younger athletes the alternatives to attach with faculty coaches and showcase their expertise.
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Past athletics, Coach Burley has been a faithful group chief, chairing the volunteer program for the Particular Olympics and founding his non-profit group, which promotes youth well being and management by sports activities applications.
“We’re proud to rename Southridge Park to Coach Sam Burley Park, a becoming tribute to a unprecedented chief who has devoted his life to empowering youth by sports activities and training,” mentioned Miami-Dade Parks Director Maria Nardi. “Coach Burley’s impression on the youth on this group is immeasurable, and this park will function an enduring reminder of his dedication to fostering teamwork, excellence, resilience, and a love for sports activities.”
Coach Sam Burley Park is a 20-acre, area-wide park with a number of facilities, together with a 3,000-seat stadium with an artificial working monitor, a playground, and multi-purpose subject. It lately broke floor on a brand new group heart and aquatic facility which can characteristic a central foyer/reception space that connects to multi-function rooms, a health heart, a child’s playroom, swimming pool and splash pad that might be accessible by the group heart or independently by a separate direct entrance.
