Bayfront Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Bayfront Park |
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Bayfront Park and Plaza in February 2020, with the Ferris Wheel under construction
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| Type | Municipal |
| Location | Downtown, Miami, Florida, United States |
| Area | 32 acres (13 ha) |
| Created | 1925 |
| Operated by | Bayfront Park Management Trust |
| Status | Completed |
| Public transit access | Bayfront Park (Metromover station) |
Bayfront Park is a large public park in Downtown Miami, Florida. It covers about 32 acres (13 hectares) and is located right on Biscayne Bay. The park is managed by the Bayfront Park Management Trust. Inside the park, you can find a bronze statue of Christopher Columbus.
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History of Bayfront Park
Construction on Bayfront Park started in 1924. It was designed by Warren Henry Manning and officially opened in March 1925. In the 1980s, the park got a big new design from a Japanese-American artist and architect named Isamu Noguchi.
Today, the park is looked after by the Bayfront Park Management Trust. This is an agency of the city of Miami, Florida.
Bayfront Park is surrounded by interesting places. To the north, you'll find Bayside Marketplace and the Kaseya Center. To the south is Chopin Plaza. Biscayne Boulevard is to the west, and Biscayne Bay is to the east. The park is a popular spot for many big events. These include New Year's Eve parties and concerts. You can also find the Bayfront Park Amphitheater and the Tina Hills Pavilion here. Boat tours around Biscayne Bay often start nearby.
Seven blocks north of Bayfront Park is another large park called Museum Park. This park is home to The Perez Art Museum and the Frost Science Museum.
In June 2020, some statues in the park, including the Christopher Columbus statue, were painted. This was part of protests happening at the time.
A Historical Event at Bayfront Park
On February 15, 1933, an important event happened at Bayfront Park. The mayor of Chicago, Anton Cermak, was shot while shaking hands with President-elect Franklin D. Roosevelt. This happened during a public appearance. The person who shot him was named Giuseppe Zangara. Mayor Cermak was seriously hurt and passed away 19 days later. Four other people were also hit, and one of them also died. There has been some discussion about whether Zangara was trying to shoot President-elect Roosevelt instead of Mayor Cermak. However, there is no clear proof of this idea.
The Christopher Columbus Statue
A bronze statue of Christopher Columbus was placed in Bayfront Park in 1952. It was a gift from the Italian-American community in Miami. The statue was made by Count Vittorio di Colbertaldo of Verona. He was a sculptor and also a bodyguard for Benito Mussolini, a leader in Italy at the time.
On June 10, 2020, the Columbus statue at Bayfront Park was spray-painted with red paint. This was done as a protest. People were protesting against the way Christopher Columbus is remembered, because his arrival in the Americas led to a difficult time for Indigenous peoples. This action was part of wider protests against unfair treatment and police actions.
Events at Bayfront Park
Bayfront Park is famous for hosting many big events throughout the year.
The city's yearly "America's Birthday Bash" is held here on Independence Day. In 2011, over 60,000 people came to this celebration. The park also hosts Miami's official New Year's Eve party. This event brings in over 70,000 visitors each year.
If you plan to visit for an event, it's a good idea to use public transportation. Parking can be hard to find and expensive. The closest Metrorail station is Government Center. From there, you can connect to the Metromover. There are three Metromover stops close to the park: Bayfront Park, First Street, and College/Bayside.
The park has also been the home of the Ultra Music Festival. This is a big event for electronic dance music. In 2018, city leaders decided the festival could not be held downtown anymore. This was because of complaints about noise and how attendees behaved. So, the festival moved to Virginia Key. However, it returned to Bayfront Park in March 2021.
Park Facilities
Bayfront Park has special areas for events and performances:
- The Bayfront Park Amphitheater can hold up to 10,000 people. It has 2,672 fixed benches and space for 7,328 people on the lawn.
- The Tina Hills Pavilion is an open-air stage area. It can hold 1,000 people, with 200 fixed seats and space for 800 on the lawn.
Car Racing History
Bayfront Park has also been used for car racing events. A temporary street track was set up here for races starting in 1983.
Images for kids
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The large fountain on Biscayne Bay is a landmark in the park.
See also
In Spanish: Bayfront Park para niños
