His grandchildren already call it “Abue’s Park.” Now, it’s official.
The Miami City Commission on Thursday renamed West End Park as Manolo Reyes Park to honor the popular and beloved District 4 commissioner — who his grandchildren called “Abue” for abuelo — who died earlier this month at the age of 80 after battling health issues.
They also gave Reyes — who had hoped to run for mayor — the honorary title of “mayor emeritus, posthumously, as a mark of deep respect and appreciation for his exceptional leadership, legacy and dedication to public service,” and voted to support a Florida Senate measure to co-designate 57th Avenue between 8th Street and Flagler as Manolo Reyes Boulevard.
The room, which was packed with department directors and city staff, erupted in applause.
Read related: Miami voters to fill Manolo Reyes’ District 4 seat with June special election
The late commissioner’s family joined the commissioners on the dais, and Manny Reyes, the namesake son, spoke on their behalf.
“We are overwhelmed with all the love that the city has poured out to us and to him,” Reyes said. “Dad was a very noble man. A man of service… He would probably be looking down and saying ‘I don’t deserve this. I was just doing what I knew was right to do.'”
Commission Chairwoman Christine King‘s voice broke as she said, “It’s an honor to do it.”
On the other side of her, Commissioner Joe Carollo kept his distance. He was the only member of the commission not greeted by Reyes’ widow or family. Probably because he’s been a bully to Reyes and then had his mayoral campaign kick-off on the same day the late commissioner was buried.
West End Park, now Manolo Reyes Park, is a 16.6 acre recreational space at 6030 Southwest 2nd Street in Flagami and the site of a $16.8 million renovation project the commissioner championed that started last year. The grand opening is expected within weeks and the park will feature:
- A new swimming pool and pool building
- A children’s splash pad with spray features
- Artificial turf on multi-use sports field
- A walking trail and outdoor exercise equipment
- Two tennis courts
- Two basketball courts
- Two pickleball courts
- A new paved plaza entry with service entrance
- New landscaping and irrigation
- A lightning warning system
- Art in public places components
The city also planted 40 new trees in the park, a district staffer told Ladra.
This is fitting. Reyes was a major advocate of park improvements and programs. He spearheaded the renovations at West End 
Park and at Shenandoah Park, the other park he loved.
“This park has been in the community forever. Now, it is totally abandoned and we are rebuilding it,” Reyes said in a city video on social media last year when they broke ground on the improvements.
It’s where Reyes played softball on a team called Caribe when he came home from the University of Florida, his son said. “I grew up going with dad to West End Park and playing there and running around in the fields,” Manny Reyes said. It’s where he later played basketball. The parks is central to the District and central to the family’s heart, as Reyes most recently went there with his grandchildren.
“What a beautiful honor,” Manny Reyes said under the city’s seal at City Hall.
“This place will always have a special place in our heart as well,” he said.
Miami Commission honors the late Manolo Reyes with park, honorary title added by Ladra on
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