BACKGROUND
Pride Park is a 5.8-acre public park located generally west of Convention Center Drive, east of Meridian Avenue, and between 18th and 19th Streets.
The park includes wandering paths around a central lawn, a fitness area, the Elmgreen & Dragset public art sculpture Bent Pool, the rainbow eucalyptus tree commemorating the Black Community in Miami Beach, and the Veterans Plaza.
At the June 23, 2021 Commission meeting, the Board transferred the management and maintenance of Pride Park to Global Spectrum to facilitate activations as part of large-scale shows and events at the MBCC.
ANALYSIS
Steps from Lincoln Road, Pride Park is conveniently located in the City Center Campus, which includes City Hall, Miami Beach Convention Center, Carl Fisher Club House and Collins Canal Park. Pride Park is also adjacent to the Miami Beach Botanical Gardens, a City-owned parking garage and the Palm View neighborhood. Its accessibility and wide open space make Pride Park highly desired for resident use and event activations. Below is an overview of Pride Park's amenities, annual and upcoming park activations.
Pride Park Activations as follows:
Fitness Area:
In June 2021, the installation of state-of-the-art fitness equipment began in Pride Park. The fitness area consists of three (3) pieces of outdoor fitness equipment by "My Equilibria," providing a variety of exercise opportunities for park visitors. The fitness area is located on the 19th Street side of the park.
Rainbow Eucalyptus Tree and Juneteenth:
On June 19, 2020, the City of Miami Beach celebrated the first Juneteenth Freedom Day Celebration, and commemorated the contributions of the Black community in Miami Beach by planting a rainbow eucalyptus tree in Pride Park. On June 19, 2021, the City celebrated the second annual Juneteenth event with guest speakers and performances by renown Poet Rebecca "Butterfly" Vaughns, the Peter London Global Dance Company and Jim Gasior with students from the New World School of the Arts Jazz Band. Both of these events were simulcasted live via the City's Facebook page and MBTV.
Public Art:
Located in Pride Park on the corner of Convention Center Drive and 19th Street, is the public art sculpture, Bent Pool. Designed by the internationally recognized artist collective, Elmgreen & Dragset, Bent Pool, 2019, was commissioned specifically for Pride Park and highly integrated into the park design through the landscape design team, West 8. The sculpture celebrates "Pride," including LGTBQ pride, the City's architectural pride and community pride.
Annual Events:
Coinciding with Art Basel Miami Beach, the annual Design Miami/ fair is located in Pride Park and opens the first week of December. Design Miami/ is fair focused on 20th and 21st century furniture, lighting and art objects from the world's top vetted galleries. Design Miami/'s agreement with the City to utilize Pride Park is until 2023.
The recently announced return of the International Miami Beach Yacht and Boat show to the Miami Beach Convention Center in February 2022, includes the activation of Pride Park during the run of the show. The proposed activation includes music, food and cultural activities for attendees.
Miami Beach OnStage! Festival:
As part of recently approved funding for cultural programming, TCD will be activating Pride Park July through September 2021 and 2022 through Miami Beach OnStage! Festival. Miami Beach OnStage! Pride Park component includes a temporary art installation and performances including, live music, theater and dance.
Parks and Recreation Department:
The City of Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department, together with Fantasy Theater Factory, will be premiering "Cinderella, A Fractured Fairytale," at Pride Park on July 18, 2021 from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM. The classic tale of Cinderella is updated to include elements of comedy, slap stick, music, acrobatics, magic and British Pantomime.
Pride Park Activation Dates:
Pursuant to the City Code, Pride Park may only be activated a total of one-hundred and twenty (120) days in a fiscal year.