Hialeah’s parks department turned an empty space into an eSports lounge for gamers
Video games have long been seen as just a hobby but these days even universities see the importance of eSports. Because of this shift, the City of Hialeah has established its first space just for gamers.
The idea came from Gian Barzaga, Hialeah’s Parks and Recreation supervisor, who saw the potential to transform an empty space in Cotson Park, located in the Seminola neighborhood, into a lounge exclusively dedicated to video games, loaded with Xbox and Nintendo Switch consoles, called Level-Up Lounge.
Since its soft launch a few weeks ago, the program has enrolled 70 children from the city. Any child that wants to participate can enroll in any of Hialeah’s parks. The program is free and the parks department is facilitating transportation from other parks to Level-Up Lounge.
“We understand that not all children are interested in traditional sports like soccer or basketball, and this is a perfect alternative for them,” Barzaga said to the Nuevo Herald.
Mayor Esteban Bovo Jr. said Hialeah’s program is the only one of its kind in South Florida and that the city has established agreements with Florida International University, the University of Miami, Barry University, the University of Florida, and Miami Dade College to offer scholarships to young people who excel in eSports competitions, to encourage participation.
Barry University has made an investment of $20 million since 2018 in eSports scholarships, integrating it into their existing Computer Information Science program.
FIU offers scholarships as part of their initiative to enhance diversity in eSports culture. University of Miami emphasizes that its eSports program not only “hones critical and analytical thinking skills and fosters team commitment but also provides valuable career experiences and leadership development opportunities.”
Miami Dade College has been actively recruiting players since their eSports Gaming Program launched in 2022.
The lounge took six months to build out at a cost of $10,000 for the city. The objective is to expand these types of spaces to other parks in the city, said Michael Festa, Assistant Director of Parks and Recreation in Hialeah.
“Fostering a safe and controlled environment where children can socialize and compete with each other is our priority,” said Festa.
Level-Up Lounge at Cotson Park, 520 West 23 St., Hialeah. More information: www.hialeahfl.gov/724/Johnny-L-Cotson-Park
