Watson Island facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Watson Island
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Neighborhood of Miami
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Watson Island and the MacArthur Causeway, with the Venetian Causeway in the foreground
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Map of Miami neighborhoods. Watson Island is the smallest light-blue area, just above the western end of the elongated green Port of Miami area.
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| Country | United States |
| State | Florida |
| County | Miami-Dade County |
| City | Miami |
| Area | |
| • Total | 0.280 sq mi (0.73 km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-05 (EST) |
| ZIP Code |
33132
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| Area code(s) | 305, 786 |
Watson Island is a special neighborhood and an island built by people in Biscayne Bay, Miami, Florida. It sits right next to downtown Miami's busy areas, like the Central Business District and the Arts & Entertainment District. The island is connected to the mainland and Miami Beach by a big road called the MacArthur Causeway. It's a unique spot in the city!
Contents
History of Watson Island
The land for Watson Island was given to the city of Miami in 1919. There was a rule that it could only be used for public things, like parks or city services. Later, in the 1940s, the state of Florida also gave the land back to the city with similar rules.
How Watson Island Got Its Name
The island used to be called Causeway Island. It was renamed Watson Island after John W. Watson Sr., who was the Mayor of Miami several times between 1912 and 1919.
Early Plans for the Island
In 1932, people thought about using Watson Island for a big event called the Pan-American Exposition. This was like a World's Fair, planned to be a place for international trade. However, by the end of the 1940s, the location for this event, later called Interama, was moved north to where Oleta River State Park is today.
The Goodyear Blimp Base
From 1930 to 1978, a Goodyear Blimp base was located on Watson Island. It started on the east side and later moved to a new area built on landfill. Goodyear moved the base to Opa-locka Airport because they couldn't agree on a new lease with the city. You can still see parts of the old base, like the circle where the blimp was tied down. There's also a paved path for a small tram that carried passengers to the airship.
Development and Public Concerns
Big plans to develop the island began in 1979. One idea was to build an amusement park called Diplomat World. However, a group of local residents formed "Save Watson Island, Inc." They were against using the island for anything other than a park. They held public protests, and because of these and other reasons, the amusement park was never built.
Later, in the late 1990s, more development ideas came up. In 2003, Jungle Island moved to Watson Island. There has been some disagreement because Jungle Island has struggled to meet the money agreements it made with the city. Sometimes, local leaders have used tax money to help Jungle Island. The Miami Children's Museum also moved to the island in 2003.
Port of Miami Tunnel
The State of Florida also offered a spot on Watson Island for a big trade meeting called the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). In 2006, the Florida Department of Transportation planned to build a tunnel. This tunnel would go from the Port of Miami under the main shipping channel to the MacArthur Causeway on Watson Island. Construction for the Port of Miami Tunnel started on May 24, 2010, and it was finished on August 3, 2014.
Current Public Places on Watson Island
Watson Island is home to several public facilities and attractions that are popular with both locals and tourists.
Aviation Center
Chalk's International Airlines had a seaplane base on Watson Island from 1926 until 2007. The City of Miami is moving the Miami Heliport next to the old seaplane base. The goal is to create an Aviation Center for businesses and tourism.
Ichimura Miami – Japanese Garden
The Ichimura Miami – Japanese Garden started thanks to Kiyoshi Ichimura. He sent items, materials, and artists from Tokyo to Miami in the 1950s. They built the San-Ai-An Japanese Garden on Watson Island, which opened in 1961. The garden was being redesigned and rebuilt in 2006.
Jungle Island
Jungle Island opened its new home on Watson Island in 2003. It was first called Parrot Jungle and opened in the Pinecrest area of Miami in 1936. It was a very popular place for many years. However, when it moved to Watson Island, it became smaller and less natural. Jungle Island now has fewer animals and not as much of the old, tall trees that the original park was famous for. It is also a popular place for events, especially its Treetop Ballroom.
Miami Children's Museum
The Miami Children's Museum opened a new, large building on Watson Island in 2003. It has ten different galleries, classrooms, and rooms for birthday parties. There's also a center for parents and teachers, a gift shop, a 200-seat auditorium, and a dining area. It's a fun place for kids to learn and play.
Miami Outboard Club
The Miami Outboard Club has been on Watson Island since 1948. This club works to protect the environment and helps with programs to create artificial reefs. They also offer social and educational activities. The club has places to dock boats, dry storage, a boat lift, and a ramp for jet skis and other small boats. It also has a restaurant, bar, and internet cafe.
Miami Yacht Club
The Miami Yacht Club has been located on Watson Island since the late 1940s. It offers sailing programs for young people and adults. The club also organizes races, regattas, and supports a Sea Scout ship. It has boat slips, dry storage, a lounge, a bar, and a restaurant.
Public Boat Ramp
There is a Public Boat Ramp on Watson Island. It has 50 extra-large parking spaces for vehicles that are pulling boat trailers. This makes it easy for people to launch their boats.
Future Plans for Watson Island
In 2001, voters approved a plan for Watson Island. Many people thought they were voting for a public park. However, the vote was actually for a partnership between the City of Miami and a company to build a large marina and shopping area called Island Gardens.
Island Gardens Project
In 2004, the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County approved Island Gardens. This was a big project planned to cost $281 million. It included two hotels, shops, restaurants, beautiful gardens, and a marina for very large mega yachts. An environmental group tried to stop the project, but they were not successful.
In 2009, the main investor, Flagstone, pulled out of the project because of a worldwide money crisis. The city allowed the developer to keep the right to build, giving them more time. In 2013, another developer, Jorge Perez, became interested. The project then grew much larger, with a proposed cost of $1 billion. Jorge Perez later decided not to be involved. He was worried about how the project would affect people in Miami Beach and cause traffic problems on the road connecting the two cities. Flagstone then gave the City of Miami a new plan, saying they were not increasing the size of their approved project.
See also
In Spanish: Isla Watson (Miami) para niños
