Norton Museum Wins Approval for $25M West Palm Beach Cultural Park

• The Norton Museum of Art received final approval to lease approximately 2 acres of city-owned waterfront land behind the museum at 1450 S. Dixie Highway, West Palm Beach, Florida 33401 for a new cultural park.
• The museum plans to invest $25 million in the project, which will feature landscaped garden rooms, public art, a lawn and a major sculpture near the Intracoastal Waterway.
• The land will be leased to the Norton for 50 years, with a 20-year renewal option. The museum will pay $100 annually for the first 10 years before moving to a rent structure tied to annual revenue.
• Designed by Norman Foster of Foster + Partners, the park will expand the museum's public footprint as the Norton also moves forward with a major building expansion.

What The New Cultural Park Will Bring

The Norton Museum of Art has received final approval from West Palm Beach officials to transform a long-vacant, approximately 2-acre strip of city-owned waterfront land into a new cultural park. The property sits behind the Norton, between its historic entrance and the Intracoastal Waterway, near the Pioneer Plaza roundabout and South Flagler Drive. The museum plans to invest approximately $25 million to create a public outdoor destination centered on art, landscaping and community activities. The City Commission approved a 50-year lease for the property on April 27, with an option for the Norton to renew the agreement for another 20 years.

What The Park Will Look Like

The cultural park is being designed by renowned architect Norman Foster, whose firm, Foster + Partners, also designed the Norton's major expansion. The museum's existing expansion created a 59,000-square-foot wing and transformed the institution's relationship with its surrounding landscape. Plans for the new park call for 14 landscaped garden rooms, a large grassy field and a central sculpture positioned near the Intracoastal Waterway. The design is intended to turn what is currently an underutilized stretch of public land into an extension of the museum campus while keeping the space accessible to the broader community.

What Art Will Anchor The Waterfront

One of the most anticipated elements will be a major sculpture positioned as a visual centerpiece along the waterfront. Norton Director and CEO Ghislain d'Humières said the museum is negotiating to acquire a work by American sculptor Richard Serra, who was known for monumental steel sculptures and died in 2024.

The museum has not publicly confirmed the acquisition, but d'Humières described the planned artwork as a potential landmark for the city, saying it would help “define the cultural identity of West Palm Beach” while creating an “iconic, publicly accessible outdoor experience.”

If the Serra work moves forward, it would give the park a major piece of contemporary public art visible from the surrounding waterfront.

What The Community Will Get

The Norton is not planning the park solely as an extension of its museum galleries. The lease agreement includes requirements designed to ensure that the property serves the public. The museum will host at least one free annual arts and culture event at the park and provide two annual art education programs for Palm Beach County K-12 schools. The Norton will also have the ability to temporarily close Diana Place and Actaeon Place, the two east-west streets bordering the park, from 6 p.m. Friday through 11 p.m. Saturday between Nov. 1 and April 30 for public activities.

Gopal Rajegowda, a member of the Norton's board of trustees, described the project as a way to turn unused public property into a gathering place, calling it “an inclusive place where any citizen can enjoy world-class art in an unparalleled outdoor environment.”

What The Lease Means for West Palm Beach

The agreement gives the Norton long-term control of the property while keeping ownership with the city. For the first 10 years, the museum will pay $100 per year under the lease. After that period, the agreement calls for additional rent equal to 25% of the museum's yearly revenue. The Norton will also receive naming rights for the property, which has historical significance. The land was once associated with a burial site used by pioneer families between 1895 and 1920 before being donated to the city in 1921. City officials and the Pioneers' Association support the lease and the proposed changes to the property's name.

What Comes Next for The Norton

The cultural park does not have a confirmed opening date yet. Before construction begins, the Norton will need to return to the city for additional design approvals. The project is moving forward as the museum continues its broader expansion plans. The Norton is preparing to increase its building space by approximately 75%, with a second phase that includes an outdoor terrace near the museum's courtyard and the new cultural park. Together, the museum expansion and waterfront park could significantly increase the Norton campus' role in West Palm Beach's growing cultural district, particularly as new luxury residential projects such as South Flagler House continue to reshape the surrounding area.