MIAMI-In mid-June, the city of Miami gave the green light to a$2-million remediation project in Bicentennial Park in downtown onBiscayne Bay, which will pave the way for the start of constructionof twin museums in the park. The $275-million Miami Science Museumand the $120-million Miami Art Museum both currently have smallerfacilities within a few miles of Bicentennial Park. Plans for thetwo institutions have been in the works for about a decade.

The remediation is necessary, because the park, which is alsobeing redesigned to be more user-friendly than it is presently, wasthe original site of the Port of Miami. Part of the land iscontaminated with oil.

The city of Miami has hired New York-based Coopers Robertson& Partners to re-design the park so that the waterfront will bemore accessible, with supporting green space and walking places,says Alyce Robertson, executive director of the Miami DowntownDevelopment Authority.