About

An Ordinance by the City of Miami Commission to Re-open Bicentennial Park as a
Public Park after 31 years of incomplete planning; creating an open public
planning process forpark design and bringing greater focus and civic leadership to overall waterfront planning for the City of Miami, including sites for cultural facilities.

WHEREAS, in 2000 a resolution was passed by the City Commission authorizing a
process to create a "premier public park" for Bicentennial Park that was

A Letter from MARTIN Z. MARGULIES
May 29, 2007

Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones
District 5 City of Miami City Hall
Re: HEART BEFORE ART

Dear Commissioner Spence-Jones,

American Association of Museums Directory 2006
(For Year Ending 2005)
This has been edited and sent to us by Martin Margulies.

From: Gregory W. Bush (no relation to the President)
Subject: Go Fly a Kite in Bicentennial Park on May 20

Go Fly a Kite ....... in Bicentennial Park. Rain or shine - or even without
wind.

Next Sunday afternoon, May 20. Probably early afternoon would be best. Bring
a hat.

Its a free park, right?

Maybe you can play soccer, or have a picnic. Or just walk around the place.
It's got a great view of the water.

Maybe a lot of people will show up and send a message that it would be better

1. The Miami Commission vote on the $2 million Homeland Security bond issue is the last chance for the city government to have a major impact on the shape of Bicentennial Park. Subsequently, it is primarily a County driven issue in terms of the $275 million bond funding. Does the city really want to relinquish all control of the $200 million in prime waterfront land it has “given” for free to favored museums who were so effective in lobbying and may never come up with the matching money?

A MESSAGE FROM:  Judith Hancock Sandoval

Common Sense Miami/A Citizens Committee for Fiscal Responsibility 

Co-chair, Parks and Public Spaces Committee, Miami Neighborhoods United

305/857-0397

mimosan@earthlink.net

       This past Friday, May 4, the Miami Herald prominently featured the announcement of major gifts of art to the Miami Art Museum  on page four. Most readers doubtless concluded that “Museum Park” remains a done deal in redefining Bicentennial Park. Yet the public needs to know that it is not a done deal, nor should it be.

Across the nation, art museum construction is funded by private philanthropy NOT by public funds. Why should the government be giving money to a group of people who can well afford to put up the money by themselves?

Should the public pay hundreds of milions of dollars in bond funds for the Miami Art Museum- when the public process has been almost minimal? We question the public process, the public financial oversight, and the park design. Most major American art museums are largely funded by private donors. 

What ideas do others have about comprehensive planning for Miami's waterfront? Architect Bernard Zyscovich has ideas he presented to the Downtown Development Authority which are startlingly original. He takes both museums out of the park and places them elsewhere on the downtown waterfront.  Worth a look. Yet where is the plan? Why is it under wraps?