Freedom Park area transportation studied for upgrade

Written by Miami Today on March 5, 2025

As the private 73-acre Miami Freedom Park multi-use project rises, the county’s Transportation Planning Organization has ordered a study to determine what transportation to develop to support it.

The planning group last week allotted nine months and $200,000 to a consultant to “develop targeted recommendations for infrastructure enhancements” and outline where the money for the improvements should come from and who should lead the transportation development.

In November, the organization authorized Executive Director Aileen Bouclé to develop the study. Last week’s vote without discussion approved her outline for work to pinpoint the infrastructure improvements needed to support the new Miami Freedom Park project.

Last month the Miami City Commission voted to secure $20 million to maintain and enhance a 58-acre public park component beside the multi-use project. The city also created the LeJeune Gardens Community Development District, which could be pivotal as new transportation connectivity is established.

The development is on the former city-owned Melreese golf course on 37th Avenue, which had been created on a former dump site. The city, with voter approval, closed a 99-year lease with Miami Freedom Park LLC, which is controlled by prominent businessmen Jorge and Jose Mas and former soccer star David Beckham. The development is to include a soccer stadium, office buildings, airport-oriented hotel, parking structure and more.

The request to approve the work and budget to analyze transportation near the vast new development came from planning organization member Rodolfo Pages. It notes the need for accessibility to the adjacent areas of Miami International Airport, the Miami Intermodal Center and a new City of Miami administration building that is to rise beside Freedom Park.

The request for study highlights the need for pedestrian access to the intermodal center, presumably for soccer fans.