Inter Miami's promised community park still on hold
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Messi joined Inter Miami four years after the Lockhart Stadium deal. Photo: Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
Nearly a year after Fort Lauderdale and Inter Miami's owners reached an agreement to deliver the overdue Lockhart Community Park, the long-promised project remains on hold.
Why it matters: The park was part of the 2019 deal and 50-year lease that allowed Inter Miami to build a $170 million stadium and training complex on the publicly owned Lockhart Stadium site.
The latest: The city's park bonds website says the project is on hold, despite an April construction deadline set by the city last year.
- A city spokesperson tells Axios that construction cannot begin until the parties finalize an amendment to their agreement. Inter Miami must then secure site plan approval and a separate construction agreement.
- Commissioner John Herbst, whose district includes the park, says the team's current plan would not receive Federal Aviation Administration approval, due to the neighboring Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport.
Catch up quick: The park was set to be completed by July 2022, but the team needed the 20 acres for overflow game day parking.
- The city and the Inter Miami owners entered into mediation to work out the park and financial terms, including demolition costs, building permit fees and the possibility of additional parking, at the team's request.
- Under the new agreement approved by the City Commission last July, the park will include pickleball courts, a dog park, a community center, running and walking trails and 260 parking spots.
Friction point: Herbst, who initially led negotiations before Mayor Dean Trantalis took over, did not support the new terms, particularly the removal of multipurpose athletic fields for the parking lot.
- "We've given away 40 acres, plus now another seven basically to Inter Miami for nothing, and they are actually going to make money on the parking lot," he tells Axios.
The other side: At the Commission vote in July, Trantalis praised the new site plan, calling it a win-win for both sides.
- "I think we're going to get an amazing deal for the city," Trantalis said. "The city's going to benefit by millions of dollars."
- Inter Miami and the mayor did not respond to requests for comment.
By the numbers: The city's parks bond program allocated $25 million for design and construction.
- Inter Miami agreed to pay a $2.5 million lump sum to the city, cover site plan preparation costs and pay another $1.5 million upon completion of the parking facility, according to a city spokesperson.
The big picture: The Lockhart Stadium deal is one of several public-private sports projects that have drawn criticism from residents who feel cities have given away valuable public land for little in return.
- Inter Miami agreed to develop Miami Freedom Park on the City of Miami-owned Melreese golf course but failed to meet payment deadlines tied to its promised $20 million investment in public parks.