The park will be designed as a passive open space for downtown workers or other residents to enjoy a moment of relaxation while in the area. According to Commissioner Sarnoff, who has championed this project both vocally and with special commission financing, the park will resemble Paley Park in Manhattan, which is a lovely pocket park lauded by William Whyte in the Social Life of Small Urban Spaces. It is set to have a waterfall, walkways, picnic tables, and seating areas, potentially with a wireless hot spot on sight.
The park project will be funded by the Miami Downtown Development Authority and money from Commissioner Sarnoff’s “quality of life” bond. According to Capital Improvement Projects director Ola Aluko, construction on the park could begin as early as this March.
It’s about time. I loved Paul Walker Park. It was a great place to eat lunch while doing business downtown, or just to escape the bustle for awhile.
Awesome news for Downtown, it’s about time! When is this supposed to be finished? They should do this to other pocket areas around downtown, like the land next to the Mellon Financial Center, the weird triangular green space north of it.
Fortunately, these types of pocket parks are priorities within the new Parks and Public Spaces Master Plan (which I think is quite strong).