The City of Key West is pleased to announce that the newly refurbished George Mira Field on 14th Street is already supporting our youth, and it’s beautiful!

The City Commission approved the renovation of the Rosa Hernandez Girl’s Softball Field, and it was completed in January, just in time for the girls to play their 30th season on a beautiful new surface. The George Mira Field was next as part of the City’s efforts to improve green and recreational spaces.
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The City is working to transition to artificial turf for ballfields. They are easier to maintain and provide a better surface for the people using them. This turf is composed of organic material, unlike some types of artificial turf that are made of rubber. That means the fields will be the same temperature as grass ballfields.

The Key West City Commission, on January 7, 2022, enacted City Ordinance Section 2-939(f) allowing café style seating on the City’s right of way.

On March 3, 2022, City management and staff met and are moving forward with the implementation of the new Ordinance starting on March 7, 2022. The plan is to have a 30-day educational/application period, which will be followed by enforcement of the Ordinance. As always, the City’s goal is to achieve voluntary compliance.

Applications are available in person at City Hall, 1300 White Street or on the City’s website, https://www.cityofkeywest-fl.gov Planning Department, Applications & Forms. For details or assistance please call 305-809-3725.

The City of Key West welcomes Wyland back to town! The artist has worked his way down the Keys repainting his three murals, first in Key Largo, then Marathon, and now Key West.
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The iconic mural graces two sides of the Waterfront Brewery building at the Historic Seaport.

​Residents and visitors should expect congestion and difficulty parking in the Caroline Street area from March 7th through the 15th. A film crew will be on several locations ranging from the Truman Waterfront Park to the Historic Seaport. The parking involved with this project will also impact the availability of the Park and Ride.
The crew will be using the old practice soccer field at Truman Waterfront as a staging area.

 Four intrepid candidates for the position of firefighter with the Key West Fire Department successfully completed the difficult agility test required to be considered for the position.

There is currently one open position, however upcoming retirements mean that these candidates will be considered in the near future.

Many of the current members of the fire department started out at the Key West High School Fire Academy. This two-year program is followed by two years of fire school after high school graduation. Then comes the agility test.

The current high school students in the academy set up the field for the agility testing on Thursday. The test consists of climbing the 75-foot ladder on the ladder truck, followed immediately by single-handedly pulling a firehose a good 50 feet. From there, they must challenge their upper body strength by hefting a 50-pound jaws of life unit, carry it several feet and control the jaws as if they were going to begin cutting, then return it to the original spot.

Next, the candidates must heft a 24-foot extension ladder, lean it against a structure, then ease it back down. Once that’s done, they must drag a firehose 100 feet. For the final part of the test the candidates dragged a 175 pound dummy – dressed in full turnout gear -- 100 feet to ensure they would be able to pull a fallen person or colleague from danger. If that’s not hard enough, the candidates must complete the tasks dressed in their turnout gear and wearing air tanks on their backs.

Completion is not the only component of the test; timing is vital.
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“I’m very proud of each of these young people who did so well,” said Fire Chief Alan Averette. “It’s hard work and a lot of dedication to get to this point, but it’s vital to ensure that the Key West Fire Department is prepared for any situation in the community.”

The Key West City Commission has designated Key Lime Pie as the official dessert of the City of Key West.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the commission voted unanimously to make a stand for what has long been the island’s treasures. The recipe was originated in the Florida Keys and was named the Official State Pie in 2006.

Currently, there is a move in Tallahassee to make strawberry shortcake the official state dessert. Key West entrepreneurs David Sloan and Paul Menta have been rallying support to keep Key Lime Pie as the signature sweet of the state. At the meeting, pie chef Kermit Carpenter, in appreciation of the move, presented each of the commissioners with a slice of the unequaled culinary delight.

“Key Lime Pie reminds people of sun, sand, tropical breezes,” reads the resolution. “Designating Key Lime Pie as the official dessert of the City of Key West enhances the welfare of pie lovers in the City of Key West and affirms the cultural and historical significance of this beloved dessert.”
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In the photo: Front row – Paul Menta, Kermit Carpenter and David Sloan. Back row – Commissioners Mary Lou Hoover, Gregory Davila and Jimmy Weekley, Mayor Teri Johnston, Commissioners Clayton Lopez and Billy Wardlow and Vice Mayor Sam Kaufman.