As the renovation of the Miami Beach Convention Center nears completion, there is an opportunity to name the neighboring the Main Convention Center Park to reflect the spirit the new convention center.
Early in the design and construction of the renovation of the Convention Center, the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau (GMCVB) and City staff collaborated on the following suggested names for the parks:
Main Convention Center Park/P-Lot:
1. Convention Center Park
2. City Center Park
Early in 2018, the NCAC recommended the names be reviewed by the Committee on Women, who later suggested that it be heard by the Parks & Recreational Facilities Advisory Board (PRFAB). NCAC suggested that staff develop additional recommendations.
In October 2018, the Convention Center Advisory Board (CCAB) motioned that West 8 (landscape architects) be asked to identify the featured plants being installed in the Miami Beach Convention parks and further, that the Parks and Recreation Board consider the names of these plants as potential names for the Main Convention Center Park.
A list of scheduled plantings in the Main Convention Center Park/P-Lot are attached (See Exhibit A).
On Tuesday, December 11th, the Parks and Recreational Facilities Advisory Board took a tour of the parks and recommends the following names:
Main Convention Center Park/ “P-Lot”:
-
Convention Center Park
- Memorial Park
During the December 14, 2018 NCAC meeting, staff was asked to research additional names and provide a presentation on potential names.
Staff reached out to West 8, the park designers who recommended the following options for both the Main Convention Center Park/P-Lot and the North Convention Center Park.
Main Convention Center Park/P-Lot
City Green
Mosaic Park
Grove Park
Grovescape
Barnacle Park
City Hall Park
Green Grove Park
City Green For the Arts
Upland Park
North Convention Center Park
ArtScape Park
Canal Park For The Arts
Collins Canal Park
Canopy Park
Mahogany Park
Staff worked with the City Attorney's office to ensure the naming of the parks is consistent with City Code including the naming of an exterior portion of a public facility or a park (as opposed to the naming of interior portions/rooms in a facility, or interior portions of a park). Under City Code there is a referendum requirement unless the facility or park is to be “named or renamed solely for the name of the City, the geographic area or physical location of the facility and/or the street or portion of the street where the facility is located, the function of the facility, or the current name of the facility.”
At the January 28, 2019 NCAC meeting, discussion regarding the Main Convention Center Park/P-Lot, NCAC recommended that "Centennial Park" and "Convention Center Park" be added to the list for consideration and suggested removing names containing "Grove" or "Barnacle" as it similar to parks and areas in neighboring municipalities.
NCAC further recommended that the Administration (Communications department) solicit feedback, via a survey platform, from the community and to include following names for the Main Convention Center Park/P-Lot:
- Centennial Park*
- Convention Center Park
- Mosaic Park*
- Canopy Park*
- Mahogany Park*
The City Attorney's Office has indicated that names noted with an asterisk (*) will require a referendum. The City Attorney is further researching whether the preface of one of these names with the location (e.g. City Center or Convention Center would also require a referendum).
During the meeting, NCAC members noted that they recalled flowering trees in the park design and requested that staff confirm and add those to the list of potential names. The Administration confirmed that the Royal Poinciana is a predominant tree in the Main Convention Center Park. Per the City Attorney's Office, this name would also require a referendum.