Downtown Miami residents seek to halt Ultra Music Festival; Do you?

Approaching 1,100 signatures as of Wednesday morning is a petition seeking to “save” downtown Miami’s Bayfront Park by stopping deafening events like Ultra Music Festival and Rolling Loud.

The petition is being circulated by the Downtown Neighbors Alliance, per the Herald, with Ultra’s contract expiring after the 2018 festival and Rolling Loud coming off a one-year contract.

“We, the residents of Downtown Miami and its neighboring communities deserve to have daily access to Bayfront Park - our neighborhood park,” the petition states. “Instead, since the beginning of 2017, Bayfront Park has been closed to the public or in a state of disrepair for over 100 days because of mega-concerts like Ultra and Rolling Loud.

“In recent years, the Bayfront Park Management Trust booked an increasing number of these events in the park. Marked by lengthy set-up and tear-down periods, these events have become larger and much more disruptive to our residential community. In addition to destroying the park's environmental elements, including trees, turf and landscaping, these events regularly force thousands of Downtown residents to flee the area to avoid the unbearable noise, traffic, and alcohol/drug-related violence present at and around these events.”

The group is urging people to share their concerns with the City of Miami, the Bayfront Park Board, and city commissioners, as “the park is for the enjoyment of residents, not a cash cow for the city!”

Considering cash is king, I’d be pretty surprised if Ultra’s contract is not renewed. Despite creating hundreds of temporary jobs and millions for the city, the concerns certainly have validity.

As a former resident living next to Bayfront Park, my apartment walls would rattle throughout Ultra weekend. You can share your views in our poll or comments down below.

Save Bayfront Park - Stop Ultra and Rolling Loud! [Change.org]

More than 1,000 sign petition to move Ultra, Rolling Loud from Bayfront Park [Miami Herald]