Commission approves 50-year lease of Norton Park to Norton Museum for public art park

The West Palm Beach City Commission on Monday approved on second reading ordinance 5167-26 to lease the green space at 1450 South Olive Avenue — identified in the ordinance as Pioneer Park and Norton Park — to the Norton Museum of Art for development as a public art and cultural park.

Madam Clerk read the ordinance into the record and Assistant City Administrator Armando Fana noted a clerical correction from the first reading: language regarding bollard operating hours should read 6 p.m., not 5 p.m., on Fridays between November and April. Fana said there were no substantive changes to the ordinance since the first reading.

Museum representatives and local supporters urged approval during the public hearing. Harvey Oyer, speaking for the Norton Museum of Art, said staff research demonstrated the land was assembled by Ralph Norton and donated to the city for park use and asked the commission to affirm the museum’s plans. Gopal Rajagouda, a Norton board member, called the proposal a transformation of underused public space into "an inclusive space where any citizen can enjoy world class art." Lorna Anderson James, a Norton trustee, told commissioners the Norton would fully fund improvements, maintenance and operations and that the space would remain accessible to the public.

"This is not just a benefit for art lovers and for museum members. It's a benefit for any citizen who can walk through a beautiful outdoor space," Rajagouda said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to approve the ordinance on second reading; the lease term and key commitments — including that improvements, maintenance and programming will be funded by the Norton and the park will remain open to the public — were affirmed in the ordinance language read into the record.

The ordinance directs implementation consistent with the lease agreement and establishes an effective date; no additional city funding was approved for park improvements at the meeting.