On one side lies history, a 1949 Presbyterian church building which houses the city's oldest congregation, founded in 1900.

On the other sits modern glitz, a lavish three-tower hotel and condo project named Icon Brickell, where units start at a half-million dollars.

Sandwiched between them is little Brickell Park, a 2.4-acre sliver of green that has long been closed off to the public and is, according to the local neighbor association, about to reopen.

Sinclair ''Tory'' Jacobs, president of the Brickell Homeowners Association, said Monday that the park should be open again by the end of the year. ''They have to remove the sales trailer for Icon,'' he said.

Group members have worked with the Related Group, developers of Icon, pitching in ideas for the park, Jacobs added.

Gloria Konsler, the group's secretary, is one of those folks.

''Bill invited Tory and me to see the landscaping plan,'' she said, referring to Icon project overseer Bill Thompson of the Related Group. ``Originally they'd told us the park would be open by the end of October, but there's still this orange construction fencing around it.''

Some local anxiety over the park's fate was eased in 2005 when the city settled a lawsuit with the Brickell family over upkeep of the park, willed to the city by the Brickells a century ago. The family argued Miami wasn't taking care of the land.

Related then got involved, agreeing to fix up and maintain the park in exchange for a small strip of land at its north edge and use of the park as a staging area during Icon's construction, which is close to completion.

Thompson did not return calls seeking comment.

Konsler said the Related rep told group members that some of their ideas, like a dog run, a sculpture for the park's winding path and planting of annual flowering plants, would not be included.

''He said they would reconsider putting some benches and maybe tables, so people working around there can go eat their lunch, after the park opens,'' she added.

The park's loopy history underscores the lack of open green space and play facilities available to the booming population within Brickell's tony condo towers and townhomes. The only parks within walking distance are Simpson Park in the Roads area and Alice Wainwright Park, across the Rickenbacker Causeway entrance from Brickell proper.

''It's astounding the amounts of people you see jogging, walking, bicycling,'' said resident Claudia Bruce. ''The sidewalks have gotten more packed in the six years I've been here. But there's little space for people to play or take their kids,'' she added.

Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, whose district includes the Brickell community, said Tuesday that the city is aware of the residents' lack of park space and is working to increase it.

He also said a new entrance will be built at Simpson Park, 55 SW 17th Rd., to ease access from South Miami Avenue.

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