THE NEIGHBORHOOD: Nestled within Biscayne Bay and the Venetian Causeway, Maurice Gibb Memorial Park is one of the parks that front Biscayne Bay. The park features over three acres of waterfront including a shoreline, boardwalk, tire swings, and boat ramps. Fun fact: It was dedicated to the late Bee Gees singer-songwriter, Maurice Gibb, in 2007.
The Bay is home to a variety of plant life – mangrove wetlands and seagrass beds – that are beneficial for the water quality and its not uncommon to see a manatee or bottlenose dolphin.
THE EXPERIENCE: The Park Hopper Scavenger Hunt and Kayak Tour, hosted by the City of Miami Beach, lets visitors take part in an interactive adventure through the city’s waterways. Funding for the project came via a grant from The Miami Foundation’s 2017 Public Space Challenge. The city submitted a proposal and then received $10,000 for the project.
Starting at the boat launch in the park, participants overturn clues and use a phone app – MB Rising Above – to navigate the waters.
WHY YOU SHOULD VISIT: The project was launched as a hands-on way to promote environmental awareness and healthy lifestyles by allowing users to take self-guided tours using kayaks, canoes, and paddleboards.
HOW TO TRY IT OUT: Download the free app by searching “MB Rising Above” in the App Store or Google Play store. You can also check out the Miami Beach Rising Above website and take the tours through there.
For this year’s Public Space Challenge, The Miami Foundation is crowdsourcing ideas to help fund projects – submit your idea – that improve mobility in Miami-Dade County. For inspiration, you can check out last year’s winning proposals.