Archives

  • www.xinsurance.com
Advertisement
The Newspaper for the Future of Miami
Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
Front Page » Transportation » Weekend set aside to help Biscayne Green take root

Weekend set aside to help Biscayne Green take root

Written by on February 25, 2020
  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
Advertisement
Weekend set aside to help Biscayne Green take root

April 17 to 19 has been set as the date for Biscayne Green Weekend, a demonstration project that will showcase how a fully imagined Biscayne Green, a project of the Downtown Development Authority, would look and feel if the project continues to fruition.

Details are sketchy – other than that the weekend will kick off with a lunch on Friday and continue through Sunday afternoon – but plans are expected to be fleshed out at the authority’s next meeting of the Urbanism Committee March 6.

Authority directors last month voted unanimously to back event – three days of activations and programming designed to spark community involvement – and fund it at $65,000.

From Jan. 6-26, 2017, the authority closed two traffic lanes and more than 100 parking spaces on Biscayne between Southeast Second and Northeast First streets. The project transformed surface parking lots into colorfully decorated spaces with picnic benches, a playground, a dog park and other amenities. Thirty-five events staged in the 20-day demonstration included art displays, live music performances, movies, happy hours, yoga, soccer, bike rides and play dates. The demonstration attracted 16,939 visits to the area.

Biscayne Green, a long-standing authority project, aims to create a grand promenade, as exists in many European capitals, on Biscayne Boulevard by closing some traffic lanes from Southeast First to Northeast Eighth streets. A lane elimination study is underway to gauge possible effects on traffic.

In addition to connecting the city with Biscayne Bay, the promenade would include sitting areas, green spaces, and “activations” including art exhibits and other attractions that would invite people out of their cars.

Even the Miami Parking Authority, facing an annual loss $1.5 million from the spaces that will be removed, has endorsed the plan. In June 2016, the parking board unanimously approved a new memorandum of understanding with the downtown authority. 

“We talked to the DDA about our role,” said Art Noriega, parking authority CEO, at that time. “This anticipates a very good working relationship with the DDA.”

3 Responses to Weekend set aside to help Biscayne Green take root

  1. DC Copeland

    February 26, 2020 at 12:09 pm

    You know this is insane, don’t you? Shutting down two Biscayne Blvd traffic lanes is nearly as mad as wasting $65k to fund a demonstration project. This 2014 idea is still the best: http://bit.ly/2Vpz15a

  2. Mike

    March 3, 2020 at 3:44 pm

    About time. This is a great project! Make Miami green!

  3. Jose Roeder

    March 4, 2020 at 12:12 pm

    Most of Europe’s cities have done this and have more positive results than negative.

    It is not a new idea and it works.

  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
Advertisement