Welcome to Citizens for Park Improvement
Our mission is to advance parks, recreation, and environmental conservation efforts on the barrier islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne that enhance the quality of life for all residents in Miami-Dade County. Our vision of the future for Miami-Dade County is to realize the full power of parks, recreation, and open spaces in creating a better life for all residents by building safe, healthy, and resilient communities.
Citizens for Park Improvement is a committed, non-profit organization founded with the purpose of addressing significant deficiencies in public safety, infrastructure, parks, and open spaces along the Rickenbacker Causeway/Crandon Boulevard corridor, covering the islands of Virginia Key and Key Biscayne.
Our Leadership
Stuart D. Ames
Stuart D. Ames, who heads Stearns, Weaver, Miller’s Commercial Lending & Asset-Based Finance practice, is a Shareholder in the Corporate Department.
His practice focuses on commercial and asset-based lending, mergers and acquisitions, and corporate and securities matters.
Mr. Ames is a frequent lecturer on business entities and corporate and secured financing law, and regularly serves as an expert witness on business entity and commercial finance matters.
Carlos de la Cruz Jr.
Carlos de la Cruz Jr., born in Philadelphia, but raised in Madrid, Spain, has years of experience in M&A, start-ups, and operations in the beverage and automobile industries in Florida and Latin America. He was President of Eagle Brands, Inc., the exclusive Anheuser-Busch wholesaler for Miami-Dade and Monroe counties for almost ten years. He also became president of Miami Honda, Central Hyundai, Sunshine Ford, and Maroone Chevrolet. Mr. De la Cruz Jr. is a founding member of the Americas Gateway Chapter for Young Presidents Organization. He has served as Chairman of the Board of Ransom Everglades School and Our Kids of Miami-Dade and Monroe, the community-based care provider for foster children with over 4,500 children in care. Carlos is currently Chairman of the Board of the Everglades Foundation.
Michael Davey
Michael Davey was mayor of the Village of Key Biscayne from 2018 to 2022. He also served as a Village Councilmember from 2008 to 2016. During his tenure on the Council, Mike worked to forge stronger relationships between the Village of Key Biscayne and surrounding governments, including Miami-Dade County and the City of Miami. He successfully helped to petition the County to be included in the Army Corps of Engineers federal shoreline protection program for Miami-Dade County. He strengthened relationships and partnerships with the state and federal representatives. Mike improved our working relationship with the Miami-Dade County Public School system. His leadership ensured the physical and financial future of the Village of Key Biscayne. Mike’s tenure saw the successful campaign for the issuance of general obligation bonds to foster the resiliency and sustainability of Key Biscayne.
When he is not volunteering as a public servant, Mike is a partner at Granados Davey, LLP. He is a certified Circuit Mediator. Mike received his JD from Fordham University Law School. His undergraduate is an ALB in U.S. History from Harvard University.
K. Taylor White, II
Taylor White is a partner and President of Banyan Street Companies, the holding company for Banyan Street’s various businesses. In this role, Taylor has primary responsibility for Banyan Street’s residential, parking and development divisions and participates in the management of the company’s general business, particularly in the capital markets arena, where he works closely with other team members to structure, negotiate and coordinate acquisitions, dispositions, joint ventures and equity and debt financings.
Taylor joined the firm as a partner in 2014 and previously served as the firm’s Chief Investment Officer, during which time he was instrumental in over $2 billion of real estate acquisition and development transactions. Taylor has also been a longtime Board Member of Breakthrough Miami, including former-Vice Chair.