Miami, Fla. – The South Dade Cultural Arts Center is being renamed to honor former Miami-Dade County commissioner Dennis C. Moss. On Saturday, Oct. 22 during the center’s eighth annual backyard bash, the facility will become the Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center, for the commissioner who served from 1993 to 2020.

Moss, who left due to term limits, is being recognized for his years of work for District 9, which includes Cutler Bay Homestead, Goulds and Florida City.

Officials said the free event at the center, 10950 SW 211 St., will include a variety of family fun activities, attractions and vendors in an outdoor environment with white sand and pink flamingos.

“We are excited to introduce this new concept for our most popular community event of the year, complete with a white-sand beach, where the whole family can kick back and have a great time,” said Eric Fliss, managing director of the center. “With a combination of great food and beach themed adult beverages on a backdrop of Yacht Rock, we are creating an unforgettable experience where flip-flops are optional and good vibes are required.”

Commissioner Kionne McGhee, who represents Moss’ former district and called him his mentor, sponsored the name change legislation. Commissioners also waived a rule that designation of county property may not be for any current elected official or one who left office within the last five years.

“Commissioner Moss was the engineer behind ensuring that the South Dade community would have representation as it relates to cultural arts,” McGhee said. “The reason being that this is so important is to give individuals their flowers while they are still here to remind them how much we appreciate them."

McGhee pointed to Moss’ work on rebuilding the areas destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, saving the Homestead Air Reserve Base after the federal government shut it down, and advocating for the 961seat arts center, which opened in 2011, is managed by the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, and showcases local and international performing arts, actors and artists.

Commissioner Danielle Cohen Higgins, who co-sponsored the legislation, said Moss is deserving “not only because of his (service) to Miami-Dade County, nor because of his incredible efforts after Hurricane Andrew. His list of service and accomplishments for South Dade are exceptionally long and outstanding. He has a famous saying of ‘We leave footprints in the sand,’” Higgins said. Renaming the center for Moss, she said, “would be exactly that, leaving his footprints in the sand.”

"Today was one of those full circle moments as I had the privilege to present my mentor, former Commissioner Dennis C. Moss, with a Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners proclamation," McGhee said during a recent NAACP event in Miami-Dade. "It is with gratitude and a humble heart that I also had the opportunity to announce the new Dennis and Margaret Moss $25,000 Public Service Scholarship." Moss, who currently serves as vice chair of the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, his term expiring in May 2025, couldn’t be reached for comment.