Following a summer decision to dissolve it, the Bayfront Park Management Trust’s planned January 1 handover is being delayed to ensure park programming and events continue running smoothly.

Last week, Miami commissioners debated the upcoming transfer of the Bayfront Park Management Trust’s operations to city administration. They ultimately voted to withdraw the July ordinance that dissolved the trust and agreed to revisit the transfer in February. This delay will give staff additional time to prepare a detailed transition plan aimed at maintaining park operations, programming, and major events without disruption.

The trust oversees Miami’s two major downtown waterfront parks: Bayfront and Maurice A. Ferré. Created in 1987, it manages park operations, maintenance, programming, and revenue. In July, the commission had voted to integrate the trust into city management by January 1 in a move designed to streamline operations. However, concerns quickly emerged regarding the timing of the transition, continuity of services, and the handling of revenue generated by the parks.

During the October 23 meeting, Commissioner Miguel Gabela, chairman of the Bayfront Trust, expressed that the trust’s impending dissolution had cast a “cloud” over park operations, hindering his ability to plan and manage events effectively. He proposed delaying the transfer until February — after major holiday events like New Year’s Eve but before the Ultra Music Festival in March — to ensure a smooth transition and allow his team to complete ongoing projects and negotiations.

Assistant City Manager for Operations Barbie Hernandez presented the city’s plan to create a new division under the city manager’s office dedicated to managing Bayfront and Maurice A. Ferré parks. This division would operate similarly to a department, featuring a director and assistant director, its own enterprise fund, and strong connections to other city departments for capital projects.

The division would continue approved events, review and renegotiate contracts, and implement a comprehensive master plan while adhering to city policies and procedures.

Commissioner Ralph Rosado supported the city-managed enterprise fund structure, emphasizing that it would preserve downtown-generated revenue locally, maintain promised projects such as the Edward T. Graham Greenway, and ensure operations continue without disruption. He stressed that the plan focused on solutions rather than targeting trust leadership personally and agreed that a February transition was the most practical approach.

Commissioner Damian Pardo highlighted key logistical concerns with the proposed transition, including employee transfers, outstanding payables, and the timing of high-profile downtown events like Ultra Music Festival and FIFA. He called for a detailed, concrete plan to ensure a smooth handover with no “balls dropped.”

Chairwoman Christine King also supported postponing the transfer, praising staff’s planning efforts and underscoring the importance of making decisions guided by the community’s best interests.

City Attorney George Wysong and City Manager Art Noriega clarified that the commission would need to withdraw the standing ordinance abolishing the trust and resubmit an amended version in November. This revised ordinance would set a new transfer date and allow staff to address logistics, vendor coordination, and employee transitions.

With the vote to withdraw the ordinance, the Bayfront Park Management Trust will remain under its current management until February, when the commission will revisit the transfer. Meanwhile, staff is tasked with developing a detailed plan to ensure a smooth handoff, maintain the parks’ enterprise fund, and safeguard ongoing programming and events.
https://www.miamitodaynews.com/2025/10/29/as-city-delays-transfer-bayfront-park-trust-lives-on/