16 Nov 2018
Construction begins on Miami’s Underline linear park
BY Andrew Manns
Work has started on the what is expected to become Miami’s next "world-class trail".
Designed by landscape architecture firm James Corner Field Operations, the 10-mile (16 km) Underline – Miami’s first integrated transport mobility corridor – will create new public realm beneath the city’s Metrorail guideway.
Set to link Miamians to eight Metrorail stations and 250 miles of trails, the park – which has been likened to New York City’s High Line skyway – will comprise 121 acres of community space and include an outdoor gym, basketball court, and concert stage.
Other amenities and facilities will include butterfly gardens, cycling and hiking paths, dining areas, and gaming tables.
The estimated $120m (€106m, £93.6m) project, which is being jointly developed by the Miami-Dade County government and the Friends of the Underline non-profit, will be constructed in stages, with the first phase focusing on the Bricknell neighbourhood.
Speaking on the Underline’s potential, Miami-Dade county mayor Carlos A. Gimenez said: "I have no doubt this will be a world-class trail that will provide a safe, off-the-road space for people to walk, bike, and enjoy all that a linear park has to offer – especially easy access to public transportation.”
Alice N. Bravo, director of the county’s Department of Transportation and Public Works, commented: "The Underline creates a recreational facility along the Metrorail for our residents and visitors to enjoy urban living while giving them easy access to a linear park and transit services.
"It’s infrastructure that serves a dual purpose – mobility and livability. It activates open spaces that serve as an anchor for smart development."
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