Vision
We are transforming the underutilized land below Miami’s MetroRail, from the Miami River to Dadeland South Station, into a 10-mile linear park, world-class urban trail and living art destination.
The Underline will connect communities, improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, create over 120 acres of open space with restored natural habitats, encourage a healthy lifestyle, provide an easily accessible place to exercise, create a mobility corridor that integrates transit, car, biking and walking, provide a 10-mile canvas for artistic expression, attract development along US1, and generate significant economic impact.
Brickell Backyard Promenade Now
Brickell Backyard Promenade After
MPath and Transit infrastructure Now
Brickell Backyard outdoor gym After
Progress and Funding
We are building!
The Underline will open the first phase in Brickell in the fall of 2020. We have secured $110 million of the total construction, programming and maintenance cost. Help us secure an additional $45 million to complete our goal.
On site and at work!
Phase 1
Brickell Backyard (Miami River to SW 13th Street)
Length: 0.5 miles
Progress: Construction begins late 2018
Total Project Cost: $16,524,258 (total construction cost $14,255,556)
Funding:
CONSTRUCTION FUNDING
$7,688,760 Miami-Dade County
$1,944,000 FDOT TAP Grant
$2,000,000 State of Florida
$4,871,690 City of Miami
$19,808 FDOT
Construction Start Date:
December 10, 2018
Target Construction End Date:
June, 2020
Project Information Manager: Karla Damian, theunderline@miamidade.gov
Construction Phases: There are 6 construction sections along the 1/2 mile span. Section 1 Miami River to SW 7th St; Section 2 SW 7th to 8th St; Section 3 SW 8th to 10th St; Section 4 SW 10th to SW 11th St; Section 5 SW 11th to SW 13th St; Section 6 road resurfacing and new signalization at SW 7th, 8th and 13th streets. Sections will be sequentially fenced from Section 1 to 5. Once an area is fenced, the fencing will remain in place until construction completion. Effective August 15th, the MPath pedestrian and bicyclist access will be redirected to the sidewalk between SW 13th and 11th Streets to accommodate construction.
Phase 2
Miami (SW 13th Street to SW 19th Avenue)
Length: 2.14 miles
Progress: Pre-Design Planning
Total Cost: $18 million
Funding:
CONSTRUCTION FUNDED
$8,578,770, State of Florida
$8,000,000, Miami-Dade County
$1,747,209, City of Miami
In construction procurement through Miami-Dade County Dept. of Transportation and Public Works.
Phase 3
Miami (SW 19th Avenue to SW 23rd Avenue)
Length: 0.8 miles
Progress: TBD
Total Cost: $8.5 million
Target Construction Date: TBD
Target Construction End Date: TBD
Phase 4
Miami (SW 23rd Avenue to 37th Avenue)
Length: 0.92 miles
Progress: TBD
Total Cost: $14 million
Target Construction Date: TBD
Target Construction End Date: TBD
Phase 5
Coral Gables (SW 37th Avenue to SW 42nd Avenue)
Length: 0.66 miles
Progress: TBD
Total Cost: $6 million
Funding:
SEGMENTS TO BE BUILT BY DEVELOPMENTS AT DOUGLAS STATION, THE COLLECTION, GABLES STATION
Target Construction Date: TBD
Target Construction End Date: TBD
Phase 6
Coral Gables (SW 42nd Avenue to SW 57th Avenue)
Length: 1.98 miles
Progress: TBD
Total Cost: $26.5 million
Target Construction Date: TBD
Target Construction End Date: TBD
Phase 7
South Miami (SW 57th Avenue to SW 65th Avenue)
Length: 1.14 miles
Progress: TBD
Total Cost: $15 million
Target Construction Date: TBD
Target Construction End Date: TBD
Phase 8
Miami-Dade County (SW 65th Avenue to Dadeland South)
Length: 1.16 miles
Progress: TBD
Total Cost: $17 million
Target Construction Date: TBD
Target Construction End Date: TBD
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Friends of The Underline
Friends of The Underline is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization transforming the underutilized land below Miami’s Metrorail into a 10-mile neighborhood park, multi-modal, world-class, urban trail and canvas for artistic expression to create a safer, healthier, more connected, mobile and engaged community.
The Underline will be open to all and serve all with amenities and art that will connect people to place and each other.
Board of Directors
Meg Daly
Founder
Roger Terrone
Treasurer, BDO
Jessi Berrin
Baptist Health South Florida
Kieran Bowers
Swire Properties
Nick D'Annunzio
Tara Ink
Emily Estefan
Musician
Rudy Fernandez
University of Miami
Alina Hudak
City of Miami Beach Asst. Manager
Arden Karson
CBRE
Ryan Marks
Kaufman Rossin
David Martin
Terra Group
Josh Merkin
rbb Communications
Camilo Miguel, Jr.
MAST Capital
Arturo Nunez
AIE Creative
Grace Perdomo
Zyscovich Architects
Salma Rahmathulla
Pelicans Group
Brent Reynolds
NR International
Rudy Touzet
Banyan Street Partners
Debi Wechsler
Philanthropist
Lilly Weinberg
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Steven Wernick
Wernick & Co
Judy Zeder
Coldwell Banker
Eric Zichella
P3 Management
Honorary Board Members
Marco Borges
22 Days Nutrition
Ximena Caminos
HoneyLab, Underline Public Art Vision Planner
Parker Thomson
Hogan Lovells
Friends of The Underline Team
Meg Daly
Founder, President, and CEO
Prior to founding Friends in 2014, Meg owned First Media Direct, a breakthrough target marketing company catering to the broadcast television industry. She has also held executive marketing and management positions in the public relations, advertising, technology, and real estate industries. Meg has a BA in English from Vanderbilt University and has served on a number of philanthropic boards.
Patrice Gillespie Smith
COO
Patrice has worked as an urban planner across the nation to create walkable, livable and resilient communities. Prior to working with Friends of the Underline, she served as the Sr. Manager of Planning, Transportation and Resilience for the Miami DDA; led Neat Streets Miami; and developed the Safer People, Safer Streets Action Plan and the Miami-Dade Complete Streets Guidelines. She is passionate about engaging the community in the Underline and wants to hear your great ideas.
Breanna Faye
CTO
Breanna is an MIT-trained architect turned technologist with a passion for bridging digital and physical environments. From GPS-enabled smart helmets to autonomous AI-driven recommendation engine for electric vehicles, she has overseen projects spanning the Future of Work, IoT, Smart Transportation, Mobility, Buildings and Cities, and is an advocate for human-centered design solutions that improve the livelihoods of individuals and the communities they reside in.
Amy Rosenberg
Chief Advancement Officer
Amy has founded/co-founded five community organizations including Dream in Green, the Arsht Center’s young patrons group, The Green Room Society, and Overtown Music Project. Prior to working with The Underline, Amy was the Director of Annual Giving and Community Engagement for the National YoungArts Foundation. Amy received her BA from the University of Pennsylvania and her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law.
Masi Faroqui
Community Outreach Manager
Born and raised in Miami, Masi manages community outreach for The Underline throughout Miami-Dade. Before working for The Underline, Masi worked for the Children’s Movement of Florida a statewide 0-5 children’s advocacy organization as director of outreach and engagement where he oversaw a team of outreach coordinators who represented The Movement at the grassroots level across the state. Masi graduated with an Associate’s in Arts degree from Miami Dade College and a bachelor’s degree in sociology/anthropology from Florida International University. He earned a master’s degree in public policy at the University of Massachusetts- Dartmouth. Masi enjoys analyzing complex social problems from outside of the box, such as the challenges that under-served minorities face in achieving an adequate and equitable level of living. In his spare time, Masi likes exercising and volunteering for community groups.
Public Funders & Sponsors
- Miami-Dade County
- State of Florida
- City of Miami
- Florida Department of Transportation
- City of Coral Gables
- City of South Miami
Underline and Brickell Backyard Founders
- Swire Properties, Underline Founder
- The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Underline Founder
- Pinnacle Housing Group, Brickell Backyard Founder
- Publix Charities, Brickell Backyard Founder
- Banyan Street Capital, Brickell Backyard Founder
- Mary Brickell Village, Brickell Backyard Founder
- Brickell Heights & SLS Lux, Brickell Backyard Founders
Donors & Supporters
- ArtPlace America
- Hogan Lovells
- University of Miami School of Architecture
- Baptist Health South Florida
- Florida Blue
- Debi and Jeffrey Wechsler
- The Irma and Norman Braman Philanthropic Fund
- Miami Foundation
- Microsoft
- The Mitchell Wolfson Foundation
- Alan and Jayusia Bernstein
- NP International
- Balfour Beatty
- Berkowitz Development Group
- Frank & Zully Castro
- Hotel Atton
- Comras Company
- BDO
- 13th Floor/Adler Group
- Health Foundation of South Florida
- Meg & John Daly
- SoMi Magazine
- Terra Group
- Leslie Miller Saiontz
- Cowles Charitable Trust
- People for Bikes
- rbb Communications
- TaraInk
- Baptist Health South Florida
- Hotel Atton
- Le Parc at Brickell
- Related's Brickell Heights
- Parker Thomson
- The Clinton Family Fund
- Goldman Sachs
- Health Foundation of South Florida
- Roger Terrone
- Fine & Greenwald Foundation
- Rails to Trails
Partners
- The High Line Network
- Miami-Dade County Transportation & Public Works Department
- Miami-Dade County Parks, Recreation & Open Spaces Department
- University of Miami School of Architecture
- The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
- The Miami Foundation
- Miami-Dade College MAGIC Department
- SOMI Magazine
Endorsements
- Miami-Dade County
- City of Miami
- City of Coral Gables
- City of South Miami
- Beacon Council
- ChamberSOUTH
- Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce
- Village of Pinecrest
- Village of Palmetto Bay
- AIA Miami Chapter
- APA FL Gold Coast Section
- Bakehouse Art Complex
- Baptist Health South Florida
- BDO
- Beacon Council
- Bike Coconut Grove
- Bike SoMi
- Bike Walk Coral Gables
- Bike 305
- Bottle & Bottega
- Brickell Homeowners Association
- Building.co
- Coconut Grove Village Council
- Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce
- The Downtown Development Authority
- East Coast Greenway Alliance
- Emerge Miami
- Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden
- Florida Department of Transportation
- Friends of the Ludlam Trail
- Friends of the MPath
- Gridics
- Hogan Lovells
- The League of American Bicyclists
- Lowe Art Museum
- Mack Cycle & Fitness
- Magic City Bicycle Collective
- MIAMI Association of REALTORS
- Miami-Dade County MPO BPAC
- Miami-Dade County MPO TARC
- Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- The Mitchell Wolfson Foundation
- Netherlands Consulate General In Miami
- PeopleForBikes
- Perricone's Restaurant
- Republica
- rbb Communications
- South Miami Hospital
- U.S. Representative Ileana Ros Lehtinen
- Riviera Neighborhood Association (RNA)
- Salazar Jackson LLP
- South Miami Bike Shop
- Swire Properties
- The Sierra Club Miami Group
- Tara Ink
- TrAC
- University of Miami
- Vizcaya Museum & Gardens
FAQ
Where did the idea of The Underline come from?
Friends of The Underline founder, Meg Daly, broke both of her arms in 2013. Since she could not drive and had to go to physical therapy, she took Metrorail near her home and walked underneath the train tracks to her destination. Even in July, she did not feel hot in the shade of the tracks. She also noticed how wide the corridor is and that she was the only person using it. Meg realized that the land could be utilized as a linear park and urban trail.
Who is the professional masterplan design team and how were they selected?
Through a competitive process, James Corner Field Operations (JFCO) was selected from a field of 19 applicants to be the masterplan design. This team created a masterplan framework and detail for two demonstration projects. The companies working in collaboration with JFCO include Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden, Kimley-Horn, HR&A Advisors, HLB Lighting and Pentagram.
Who is making The Underline happen?
Friends of The Underline are transforming the land below Metrorail from the Miami River to Dadeland South. The Friends group is working with Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation & Public Works to raise county, state, federal and municipal grants. The management, maintenance and programming of The Underline will be run by a 501C3 represented by the County, FDOT, FTA (Federal Transit Authority), Friends of The Underline and three municipalities.
Why is The Underline only being built to the south?
The area underneath the Metrorail from the Miami River to Dadeland South (the footprint for The Underline) is owned by Miami-Dade County. Once over the river, the area under Metrorail is much more complicated due to land ownership, right of ways, etc. We are mapping how to get over the river, and connect north, west and east access points once The Underline is built.
Why is The Underline being built in phases and not all at once?
The Underline is being built in phases based on funding and to have the least amount of impact to users of the existing path.
What is the total budget for The Underline's design and construction?
The total cost is $110-$120 million which includes:
$80 million for the two trails, lighting, seating, native landscaping and other amenities.
$20 million for intersections improvements (over 30 intersections).
$20 million for destination parks.
How will the project be funded?
Some of the funders include Miami-Dade County, the State of Florida, FDOT and the cities of Miami, Coral Gables, and South Miami and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, the Miami Foundation, the Health Foundation of South Florida and Mitchell Wolfson Foundation. For a better breakdown of funding by phase, please refer to our Progress page. Additional funding will derive from public and private sources.
Do you disclose Friends of The Underline financial activities?
Yes, Friends of The Underline is a 501C3 non-profit organization and our most recent financials can be found on Guidestar.
Where will my donations go?
Your donations will be used to help support the mission of Friends of The Underline. We are a 501C3 non-profit organization and your donations are tax-deductible. We really appreciate your support!
How can I donate?
Donating to The Underline is simple. You can donate online or send a check made out to Friends of The Underline and mailed to Friends of The Underline, 1172 South Dixie Highway, #559, Coral Gables, FL 33146. Every tax-deductible dollar you donate will support our mission and will contribute to a safer and more beautiful Miami. If you have questions, please contact Amy Rosenberg at 305-610-8091 or amy.rosenberg@theunderline.org.
How do I honor or memorialize my loved ones by naming something for them in the park?
We have naming opportunities starting at $1000 and welcome your support. For more information, contact Amy Rosenberg at 305-610-8091 or amy.rosenberg@theunderline.org
When will construction begin?
Construction for Brickell Backyard (Phase 1, Miami River to SW 13th St.) had a groundbreaking ceremony on November 1, 2018. Phase 2 (SW 13th St. to SW 19th St.) is projected to begin design Spring 2019. To stay up to date with construction progress, please refer to our Progress page.
What is the MPath? Will The Underline and MPath be closed until the entire project is built?
The MPath is an existing asphalt path below Metrorail. During construction, the MPath will be accessible but some detours might occur. The Underline will be open as each phase is completed.
How long will it take to finish The Underline? Each phase?
Projects with similar vision and scope have taken a decade to complete. We project each phase taking a year to a year-and-a-half to complete. You can help us build it in less time by supporting the initiative and donating to the cause.
What are you doing about safety for bicyclists and pedestrians?
User safety is one of our biggest concerns. Currently the MPath, the bike path underneath the Metrorail, has limited lighting or amenities, and needs wider and safer crosswalks. All of these, and other safety issues, are being addressed.
What does security look like on the future Underline?
The Underline will include ample lighting, patrolling security, and CC cameras along the trail.
How will The Underline be maintained?
Management, maintenance and programming will be done by a public 501C3 called The Underline Management Organization.
What types of programming and amenities will be available once The Underline is built?
Along the estimated 120 acres, the linear park and urban trail will feature amenities including butterfly gardens, dog parks, exercise equipment, basketball court, mini-soccer pitch, sound stages and monumental art. To serve users of all ages, The Underline will feature numerous health and wellness, meditation, cultural, educational and environmental programming.
Will there be WiFi?
Plans are in the works to include WiFi along The Underline.
Will there be bathrooms?
Bathrooms are not in the design scheme of the masterplan. The Underline is adjacent to many commercial establishments that provide easily accessible public bathrooms and are available inside Metrorail stations for riders.
I have an idea for The Underline. How do I send it to you?
One of our top priorities is getting the community involved! Please email us at info@theunderline.org with your design comments or post on our social platforms Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @theunderlinemia.