Downtown Coral Gables Park is a winner in the 2016 Public Space Challenge

Bike Walk Coral Gables (BWCG) is proud to announce that our submission of a “Downtown Coral Gables Community Park” has been selected as one of 19 winners selected from 400+ ideas submitted by our community to the 2016 Public Space Challenge, a program of The Miami Foundation. 

Bike Walk Coral Gables submitted an idea to create a small public park in the green buffer in front of the parking lot at the corner of Galiano and Almeria. While the city is known for its tree-lined streets and high quality green spaces, this is not the case in the city’s densest area. The city’s population is 50,000, though it doubles during the day when office workers, service personnel, and tourists flock to one of the more popular downtowns in the county. Population and tourism continue to increase in the downtown area with added residential units, streetscape improvements, and the implementation of the citywide bike master plan. Downtown and adjacent neighborhoods are one of the rare areas in Miami where one can still live affordably while also enjoying a high quality of life. To build a sense of community and contribute to the livability of downtown, the area needs additional public spaces where people can have lunch, sit in the shade on a hot day, or just enjoy the sights. The park – centrally located in the downtown - will offer a passive space to gather, interact, and relax in a natural environment. The park will also include a bike repair station, covered bike parking, a water station, and other amenities to cater to bike commuters and recreational cyclists in the area.

The Public Space Challenge is a platform for residents to create, improve and activate parks and public spaces in their neighborhoods. This year, individuals, organizations and public agencies throughout Miami-Dade County submitted more than 400 ideas, setting a new record for number of entries since the program began in 2012. In partnership with the Health Foundation of South Florida and the Office of Miami-Dade County Commissioner Juan C. Zapata, District 11, The Miami Foundation will invest $305,000 to help residents make the winning projects happen. In addition to the funding, each group will receive technical assistance from The Miami Foundation to work with county and municipal offices in executing their projects. Click here to learn more about the winning entries.