Summary
- The Underline: A Community Asset
- Safety Concerns for Biking and Walking
- Public Art and Community Engagement
- Future Phases and Expansion Plans
The Underline: A Community Asset
When Meg Daly broke both of her arms in 2013, the Miami resident had to rely on the Metrorail to reach physical therapy. While walking the remaining distance, she observed that the shadows cast by the rail tracks offered respite from the intense Florida summer heat. This revelation led to the conception of The Underline, a transformative 10-mile linear park nestled underneath the tracks.
Safety Concerns for Biking and Walking
“Miami is one of the most dangerous places to walk and bike in the country,” Daly remarked to Travel Weekly in 2017. Consequently, she emphasized that The Underline would serve as an off-road safe haven, creating a linked network for biking and walking that connects various communities within Miami.
Public Art and Community Engagement
Similar to iconic projects such as New York City’s The Highline and Chicago’s The 606, The Underline spans 120 acres and integrates a multi-purpose pathway featuring ample green spaces and public art. Planned to extend from Brickell Station in Downtown Miami to Dadeland South Station, the park aims to enhance community life.
In February 2021, the first phase opened with a budget of $16.5 million, unveiling a half-mile stretch known as Brickell Backyard, stretching from the Miami River to SW 13th Street. It boasts the River Room, which includes separate walking and biking paths, the Urban Gym equipped with exercise stations, and a variety of sports facilities. In addition, it showcases a 700-square-foot stage at the Promenade and the Oolite Room featuring four butterfly gardens—marking the initial step of 20 planned gardens. Current public artworks include Edny Jean Joseph’s mural titled “The Allegory”, Cara Despain’s installation “Water/Tables”, and Jamieson Thomas’ piece “In Tune With Nature”.
Future Phases and Expansion Plans
Within its first year, The Underline attracted over a million visitors, showcasing more than 50 free community programs while fostering a habitat where thousands of butterflies bloomed amidst its 30,000 native plants.
Plans are now underway for the second phase, which carries a cost of $20.1 million and is expected to open in summer 2023. This forthcoming phase will expand four times the length of the first, comprising a 2.14-mile stretch from SW 13th Street to SW 19th Avenue. Notably, it will introduce the first playground along The Underline and implement bioswales, green infrastructure, and underground drainage systems, in addition to integrating 10,000 native plants and species into the space.
The ultimate goal includes constructing a third phase that stretches from SW 19th Avenue to Dadeland South Station, with an impressive estimated length of seven miles and a budget projected to reach $109 million. Daly has indicated that public meetings will be convened to gather community input regarding the future direction of this final section.
