MIAMI – A contentious proposal to allocate $20 million in city funds exclusively for the development of a park at the Miami Freedom Park stadium site passed in a 4-1 vote during a heated Miami City Commission meeting Thursday, drawing backlash from critics who called it a taxpayer-funded giveaway to billionaires.
The measure, backed by Miami Mayor Francis Suarez, designates the funds for park improvements at the soccer stadium site. But critics argue the money should instead be used to expand public green spaces across the city.
“Effectively, it gives the development team at Freedom Park a $20 million gift,” said Albert Gomez, a longtime opponent of the project. “This is taxpayer money that could be used for actual public parks, not to benefit a private entity.”
Debate Over Fund Allocation
“The amendment was to restore the $20 million to the 58-acre park at Freedom Park — the location where the soccer stadium is next to,” Suarez said.
But opponents challenged his interpretation, pointing to language in the original April 2022 resolution.
“There is language in black and white in the April 28, 2022, adopted resolution that says $20 million for the acquisition of public parks citywide,” one speaker said.
“That is not what it says,” Suarez responded.
“I can show it to you,” the speaker replied.
The April 2022 resolution included a clause stating that Miami Freedom Park would provide the city with a $20 million contribution for the city’s use toward improvements to public parks or acquisition of public parks within the city.
Suarez defended the funding, saying, “And that is what it is for. The $20 million is going to the second-largest park in our inventory, which is that park.”
Former Miami Commissioner Disagrees with Suarez’s Interpretation
Former Miami Commissioner Ken Russell, who was on the dais when the resolution passed, disagreed with the mayor’s characterization of the agreement.
“It includes Freedom Park, but the key there is the acquisition of other parks to replace green space lost, and that is the deal agreed to,” Russell said.
Suarez countered that subsequent zoning decisions clarified how the funds should be used, but Russell dismissed his argument.
“Jedi mind trick,” Russell quipped.
$10 Million Redirected to Other Districts
The commission also approved allocating $10 million across the city’s four other districts, a move that raised additional questions.
“Where does the $10 million come from?” one commissioner asked.
“Taxpayer dollars,” another responded. “Other services — Mas’ obligation.”
Despite public backlash, the commission moved forward with the funding plan, leaving critics concerned about the future of public park investments in Miami.
