safety
Miami Wilds water park project crashes after judge nixes dev site lease due to “mutual mistake”
By Lidia Dinkova at The Real Deal
· June 15, 2026
· 1 min read
A controversial mixed-use water park project near Zoo Miami that’s been in the works for over a decade has collapsed, after a judge voided the development site lease. The developers –– Paul M. Lambert, Bernard Zyscovich and Michael Diaz Jr. –– working through the entity Miami Wilds LLC planned a wat
Key takeaway –– working through the entity Miami Wilds LLC planned a water park, a 200-key hotel and between 15,000 and 20,000 square feet of commercial and dining space on a 27.
Why this matters in The Miami
The collapse of the Miami Wilds water park project has significant implications for the surrounding area, particularly in terms of traffic and infrastructure. The proposed development was slated to revamp and manage a substantial portion of parking lots near Zoo Miami, which could have alleviated some of the congestion in the area. Without this project, the county will need to explore alternative solutions to address the parking and traffic woes that plague the zoo and its neighboring attractions. Furthermore, the loss of the proposed hotel and commercial space may also impact the local economy, which relies heavily on tourism and entertainment. As the county moves forward, it will be crucial to consider the needs of the community and the potential consequences of large-scale development projects, especially in areas prone to flooding and other environmental concerns.
About this story
Original reporting by The Real Deal . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit The Real Deal . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: June 15, 2026 ·
Source: The Real Deal ·
Reading time: 1 min
newsletter" aria-label="Newsletter signup" style="margin:24px 0;padding:20px 24px;background:linear-gradient(135deg,#1e3a5f 0%,#2d5a8c 100%);border-radius:10px;color:#fff">
Get more The Miami stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering safety and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? A controversial mixed-use water park project near Zoo Miami that’s been in the works for over a decade has collapsed, after a judge voided the development site lease. The developers –– Paul M. Lambert, Bernard Zyscovich and Michael Diaz Jr. –– working through the entity Miami Wilds LLC planned a wat
When was this published? This article was first published on June 15, 2026 by The Real Deal and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Lidia Dinkova at The Real Deal. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
← Back to all news
More safety →
Today’s briefing
Subscribe to newsletter