Summer handoff planned for downtown’s parks

Miami’s downtown waterfront parks, Bayfront and Maurice A. Ferré, will continue under the Bayfront Park Management Trust while leadership prepares for a planned handoff this summer, giving residents and visitors a stable rhythm of events, programming and maintenance.

The trust’s future had seemed uncertain after a July 2025 commission vote to dissolve it, only for that decision to be reversed in October to prevent disruption to park operations. With Commissioner Miguel Gabela recently reaffirmed as chair of the Bayfront Park Management Trust on Feb. 12, the board is now focused on ongoing improvements and planning a smooth transition in July.

From the sparkling fountains of Bayfront to the shaded walkways of Ferré, downtown Miami’s two major parks are at the heart of community life, hosting concerts, festivals and public gatherings that draw locals and tourists alike. The parks’ management structure affects everything from maintenance and event programming to how revenue generated in the parks is reinvested downtown.

The Bayfront Park Management Trust was established in 1987 to oversee operations, programming and revenue a quasi-independent entity under city oversight. Over the decades, the board has navigated political friction, operational challenges and debates over whether the trust should remain separate or be absorbed by the city. In July 2025, commissioners voted to dissolve it, citing disputes and “personality-driven” conflicts, but concerns over continuity and major events led the city to reverse course in October.

Since stepping into the chairmanship last February, Mr. Gabela said he and his team have focused on turning the trust around. “There were a lot of complaints when we came in. We did fix them. There was a lot of accounting stuff that needed to be corrected,” he told Miami Today in a December 2025 interview. Mr. Gabela also restructured trust meetings to 6 p.m. weekdays to boost public attendance and enhanced event programming, accounting practices and park operations.

At their Feb. 12 meeting, commissioners reaffirmed Mr. Gabela as chair of the Bayfront Park Management Trust, ensuring continuity as they conduct their annual review of officials serving on city boards and committees. Other key leadership roles were reconfirmed at the meeting, including Christine King as chair of the Midtown and Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agencies (CRA), Ralph Rosado as chair of the Downtown Development Authority, and Damian Pardo as chair of the Omni CRA.

Mr. Gabela plans to voluntarily step down in July, saying he wants to dedicate more time to projects in his district, including the upcoming Freedom Park, which he described as a “miniature city” in itself. 

“A vote has to be taken after July 15 to see what we’re going to do for the park,” Mr. Gabela said. “My hope is that we keep it as a trust, because I think if it goes to the city, people will want to get their hands on the money that pertains to the park, and then maintenance might not be as good as it is now.”

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