A new project is coming to the 500 Alton Road Ventures and it is looking very good for visitors of South Beach, if we consider that this place has been filled by vacant lots for a while. But not anymore, because this location will soon become a beautiful three-acre park, named Canopy Park, located adjacent to a stunning building -the tallest ever in Miami Beach- where people can find their ideal place to live.
This promising construction project won the approval needed from the Miami Beach City Commission last year and it will be developed by Terra, Crescent Heights, both locals and New Valley. The project consists of a residential tower next to the public park, which will be located between the 600 and 700 blocks of Alton Road.
This park, filled with native tree species, will be the perfect space for residents to engage in outdoor activities such as bike and running, it will also have an outdoor gym and dog run for your beloved pets. For the little ones, this park will have a one-of-a-kind playground, designed by MONSTRUM, a Danish company, creator of the best playscapes in the world. Some of the highlights of this fun playground are: a giant butterfly, a mangrove forest and a caterpillar slide where children can jump, climb, balance, and express their imagination while they recognize some of the most distinctive animal and vegetal species of Miami.
Other activities in the park will include public art displays since Miami is a landmark thanks to its strong cultural and artistic background. Canopy Park is located at the site of the former South Shore Hospital, which was recently demolished. The construction of this attractive and valuable place to the city is scheduled to be completed by Summer 2021.
Canopy Park will be connected to the South of Fifth neighborhood and the Miami Beach baywalk via a new pedestrian bridge over I-395. The bridge, designed by French conceptual artist Daniel Buren, will receive the name of Miami Beach Canopy. This construction will complete the Miami Beach Baywalk, creating a safe and seamless connection running from South Pointe Park north to the Lincoln Road District and east to the beachfront. In addition, the Canopy will become an instant icon for Miami Beach and a work of public art that guides pedestrians throughout a colorful road. Completion of the Miami Beach Canopy pedestrian bridge is anticipated for 2022.
On the other hand, to take the Canopy Park experience to another level, a development team has been assembled, and it is composed by prominent artists, designers and architects who have the mission to add value to the community through this construction. The team includes architects Bernardo Fort-Brescia & Raymond Fort of Arquitectonica; landscape architect Laurinda Spear of ArquitectonicaGEO; design advisors Daniel Vasini of West 8, Anda Andrei of Anda Andrei Design, and Michael Gabellini and Kim Sheppard of Gabellini Sheppard Associates; and art advisor Lisa Austin.
But the plans for Canopy Park do not stop there: this world-class natural location will play an important role in the sustainability and resilience policies very much needed in these modern times. This includes habitat restoration, vegetation, biodiversity, native plant communities, irrigation, water conservation and rainwater management, making a groundbreaking process for the maintenance and conservation of the park. Additionally, the park will be the most important and educational resource in Miami City to inform residents and visitors about the resilience and sustainability efforts being made by the city in the public spaces.
As said by Dan Gelber, Mayor of Miami Beach: “World-class cities and neighborhoods are defined by their public spaces, and Miami Beach is home to some of the most desirable parks and open spaces anywhere”, and Canopy Park won’t be the exception to this rule, so we will have to wait patiently for Summer 2021 to start enjoying this beautiful public place available for the entire community.