Bayfront Park-Miami
Originally known as Royal Palm Park, Bayfront Park served as the first public gathering place for the Greater Miami community. In 1896, there was only a pavilion and a green space in the park, and visitors used it for baseball games and track and field. Later, a bandshell was constructed, and the park was frequently used for athletic competitions, cultural events, and political meetings.
Bayfront Park now stretches 32 acres in the heart of Downtown Miami and sits right on Biscayne Bay after expanding many times over the years. A great place for families to relax, play or exercise, this iconic park features open lawns, a wide baywalk, winding walkways, a sandy beach area, a spectacular fountain, performance venues with special event lighting and VIP seating areas, a tropical rock garden, a waterfall that dates back to the year 1926 and much more.
Various outdoor activities are available at this waterfront park for all ages and interests. Enjoy a stroll along the palm- and oak-lined bayfront, take a bike ride, or simply relax on one of the park’s many grassy areas. If you feel like shopping, head to Bayside Marketplace, a waterfront outdoor mall with tons of popular stores, restaurants, and bars. While you’re there, don’t forget to stop and admire the park’s impressive monuments. Isamu Noguchi, who is recognized as one of the world’s leading 20th-century sculptors, designed several gems in Bayfront Park like the Challenger Memorial, the Light Tower, and the Slide Mantra. There are also monuments to Claude Pepper, Christopher Columbus, and Julia Tuttle, as well as a World War II Veterans’ Memorial, the Mildred and Claude Pepper Fountain, and the Centennial Time Capsule.
Families will also love the Lee & Tina Hills Playground, which has a pirate ship, bouncers, slides, climbing areas, and a play sculpture with waves, dolphins, turtles, and a manatee that children ages 5-12 can enjoy. This playground is located at the south end of the park, next to the Tina Hills Pavilion. The Tina Hills Pavilion has both permanent seating and a casual lawn area. It typically hosts smaller-scale performances, press conferences, corporate events, outdoor receptions as well as Bayfront Park’s popular free yoga classes. The yoga classes take place every Tuesday and Thursday at 5 p.m.
With its prime Downtown Miami location, Bayfront Park is surrounded by a large selection of restaurants, ranging from fast-food joints to upscale haunts and dive bars. There are also some of Greater Miami Floria iconic sites nearby, such as American Airlines Arena, Freedom Tower, Bayside Marketplace, and Maurice A. Ferré Park. Downtown Miami is pedestrian-friendly and these spots are all within walking distance. The latest attraction is the Skyviews Miami Observation Wheel, an enclosed gondola ride that rises nearly 200 feet above Bayside Marketplace, offering amazing views.
Bayfront Park has two performance venues that host a diverse calendar of events. The park’s primary performance facility is the FPL Solar Amphitheater, a state-of-the-art, solar-powered venue managed and operated by Live Nation. With direct views of Biscayne Bay, permanent seating, and designated VIP areas, this venue is great for large-scale concerts and music festivals.
With a new budget reflecting the return of a previously removed shade structure, the City approved replacing the splash pad and playground at Bayfront Park. The centerpiece of the $3.22 million playground renovation is the splash pad, which will be new from below the ground up. The popular but antiquated 27-year-old water feature could no longer be properly maintained, largely because of aging and inaccessible plumbing. It has been closed for several months.
A point of concern among commissioners was the lack of shade structure, which was one of several features removed to reduce the project cost to $2.9 million. During the meeting, City Manager Marlon Brown said he would scour the budget to find the additional $300,000 to include the shade structure in the project. That shade structures its strategically located between the splash pad and the playground. Parents could be sitting in the covered area and watching out for their children on the splash pad and the playground at the same time as opposed to the two different levels that it has today where there they seem like they’re two separate parks. It just makes that a safer situation.
Currently sitting at sea level, the new splash pad will be elevated by several feet, but won’t appear so because the entire grade will be gradually raised between the bayfront and the water feature. Raising the splash pad, explained Phil Smith of project contractor Jon F. Swift Inc., will provide easier access to the plumbing when repairs and maintenance are required.
Some of the sidewalks are being adjusted also and the grade is being brought up to blend in so that the whole area is being raised not just the splash pad proper. The splash pad will be way easier to maintain with fewer moving parts than it currently has. Fogle said the playground will be closed soon so construction can begin. The playground structures will also be made of more durable materials. It will be all artificial turf, and the playground equipment is all reinforced fiberglass concrete. It’s meant to be something that’s much more durable, so it’s not a typical aluminum plate structure.
Bayfront Park is just three blocks from I-95 and is accessible from the Miami-Dade County Metrorail, Metromover, Tri-Rail, and Metrobus. So if you’re looking for a place to unwind that’s close to public transportation, Bayfront Park should be at the top of your list. With its scenic views, ample seating, and a variety of food options nearby, Bayfront Park is the perfect spot to take a break from city life. Whether you’re looking to people watch, enjoy some fresh air, or soak up some sun, you will find what you’re looking for at Bayfront Park. you’ll find what you’re looking for at this urban oasis. So the next time you need a break from city life, head on over to Bayfront Park – you won’t be disappointed.