🎙 BETTER DECISIONS PODCAST

Palmetto Bay, Miami: Schools, Safety & Quality of Life with Mayor Karen Cunningham

In this episode of Better Decisions, I sit down with Karen Cunningham, longtime mayor of Palmetto Bay—Miami’s “Village of Parks.” A former first-grade teacher and community advocate, Mayor Cunningham has led initiatives spanning school safety, flood-risk reduction, and park expansion while keeping the village’s small-town feel intact.

We unpack why Palmetto Bay has become a top choice for families and value-minded buyers: low crime, strong public schools, meaningful parks & recreation, guardrails on over-development, and practical investments in resilience that can even reduce flood-insurance costs. We also look ahead at mobility upgrades, the growing downtown corridor, and how lifestyle and community programming shape long-term home values.

⏱️ Episode Chapters

• 0:00 – Teaser
• 1:00 – Welcome & guest intro
• 4:03 – How the village began
• 7:00 – Parks & recreation culture
• 9:28 – New recreation center coming 2025
• 10:56 – Who’s moving here & why
• 12:20 – Top schools driving demand
• 15:17 – Traffic & commuting life
• 16:11 – Development limits & zoning
• 17:13 – Multifamily projects & density debate
• 21:21 – Transit upgrades & mobility
• 24:46 – Comparing Palmetto Bay vs Gables, Grove, Pinecrest
• 26:05 – Best streets & neighborhoods
• 27:57 – Pickleball & community connection
• 31:07 – Village vibe & social life
• 34:31 – Nature, wellness & lifestyle value
• 38:03 – Rising home values & luxury builds
• 45:31 – Future growth & investment outlook
• 47:59 – Resilience, flooding & sustainability
• 53:04 – Events, parks & community gatherings
• 54:37 – Next decade & downtown vision
• 56:15 – Public safety & peace of mind
• 59:10 – Closing thoughts

🔗 Related Resources

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👤 About Mayor Karen Cunningham

Karen Cunningham has served Palmetto Bay residents for over a decade—first as Councilwoman and now as a two-term Mayor. Her administration emphasizes public safety, parks and recreation, school partnerships, and infrastructure/resilience, all while maintaining the village’s community-forward character.

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