Miami’s longest linear park, which would stretch 10-miles long from Brickell to Dadeland underneath the Metrorail, is being renamed. The linear park, currently known as the Greenlink, is being renamed and branded The Underline.Supporters of the Underline initiative want to transform the underutilized land beneath the Metrorail into a 10-mile linear park and bicycle and pedestrian commuter/exercise trail.The cities of Miami, Coral Gables, South Miami, and the Village of Pinecrest unanimously endorsed the project citing the potential positive economic impact to their communities and the health impact for the nearly 400,000 residents within a 10-minute walk of the park and trail.“The Underline’s new name, logo and website are all ‘Wow’ reflecting the iconic nature of the vision and scale of the project,” said Meg Daly, Friends of the Underline founder.
“This innovative project will set Miami’s legacy of great linear parks to new heights. With The Underline, our community will join the ranks of leading cities that invested in a network of great parks. This project will transform nearly ten miles of underutilized Metrorail right of way into the world’s only great linear urban park that is fully integrated into transit while transforming the region through its economic, environmental and health benefits” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos A. Gimenez.
“The Underline is another testament to Miami’s growing appetite for breakthrough ideas and innovation,” said Matt Haggman Miami program director for the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, one of the project’s funders. “We are hopeful about the tremendous impact that it could have on further building Miami’s urban core and attracting young talent to the city, who increasingly gravitate toward more walkable, transit-friendly communities.”If everything stays on track, building could start in a year and could take five to 10 years to complete.To kick-off the new branding, HistoryMiami, a Smithsonian Affiliated museum, located at 101 W. Flagler Street in downtown Miami, will feature The Underline: Make It Yours exhibition in its Community Gallery from Tuesday, September 16, until Sunday, November 16.The exhibition showcases the key components of the initiative, a 20-foot wide trail, park spaces, and transit station development. Visitors are encouraged to post comments directly on the walls of the exhibition. This feedback will be collected and used in The Underline’s master planning process beginning in 2015.Visit historymiami.org for hours of operation and directions. The Underline: Make It Yours exhibition is free to the public.Click here to see the CBS4 story.
