Cities
05.09.24
Cities
The Underline: A multimodal corridor in Miami
The Underline supports provides green space for the nearly 400,000 residents that live within a 10-minute walk of the park. Open 24/7, illumination strategies for the park balance considerations for safety and vertical illumination while minimizing skyglow and light trespass. Credit: Sam Oberter
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It is not often that a city receives a new multimodal corridor of 10 miles or 16 km in length with a whole array of new open spaces. In Miami, The Underline is providing exactly that: Designed by James Corner Field Operations, the new corridor stretches from the Miami River in Brickell to the Dadeland South Metrorail station, following the Metrorail tracks. Once completed, it will offer 120 acres (almost 50 hectares) of open space with natural habitats, improved walking and cycling facilities connecting directly with public transport, and a multitude of public open spaces with active, passive, and cultural programmes and public art installations. The Underline consists of three phases, two of which are already complete.
A new approach to public space
James Corner Field Operations is one of the studios behind New York’s celebrated High Line. Rather than placing public space on top of an elevated railway, The Underline in Miami is a multimodal corridor underneath a metro railway. This linear new park for downtown Miami uses an under-utilised area below some of the city’s MetroRail, which opened in 1984 to provide rapid transit in the urban core of Miami.
The Underline follows the route of an existing bike trail called the M-Path. James Corner and colleagues worked closely with residents to develop plans for The Underline, which include widening the bike path and creating a parallel pedestrian path of at least 2.4 metres in width. The idea is that the park will wind through various ecosystems, shaded by native plants that provide habitats for birds and butterflies. It features spaces for art and recreation, pop-up structures for small businesses, a bike tune-up station, and space for biodiversity. It will tie into other urban trails, both existing and proposed. Eventually, Miami and the Friends of the Underline envision a network of 402 kilometres (250 miles) of trails. Its spine will be The Underline, “an iconic linear park, world-class urban trail and living art destination.”
The hope is that The Underline in Miami will bring communities closer together, improve pedestrian and cyclist safety, and create over 100 acres (40 hectares) of open space with restored natural habitats. This also represents a pivot in the city’s approach to public space. In a competitive process, New York-based studio James Corner Field Operations was selected to plan the park, winning against 18 other applicants.
The Underline is designed to minimize conflicts between different modes of transportation. Separate pedestrian and bicycle paths are set within lush gardens with planting inspired by the area’s historic plant communities, grounding the project in its South Florida context.
The design for Brickell Backyard is organized by a procession of rooms—the River Room, Gym, Promenade, and Oolite Room—each articulated with a unique program that responds to its immediate context and to the needs of the local community.
Biodiversity and climate resilience
The Brickell Backyard is the first built section of The Underline in Miami, setting the tone for the other phases as a new form of public space. Completed in 2021 and with a length of 0.5 miles, this section is the result of community engagement. The design of the park consists of different character zones that result in a consistent, yet dynamic experience and respond to each of the neighbouring communities’ priorities. The “rooms” of the park include the River Room, a gym, the Promenade, and the Oolite Room. Together, they offer a combination of places for respite, social gathering, fitness, performance, art, and commuting.
The Promenade is lined by multiple bus and trolley stops. It also features bicycle parking for commuters and serves as a central place for community gathering with its stage, plaza, and flexible furniture. The Friends of the Underline host a cultural programme that includes yoga classes, musical and dance performances, and other family-friendly activities.
The Gym is a flexible space for outdoor fitness classes and programming with a free health and wellness programme. In the River Room, residents can find respite and enjoy views of the river. Its oolite coral stone boulders create seating areas, leading to the Oolite Room, where bicycle and pedestrian paths are nestled into existing oolite formations and lined by naturalised garden spaces. Biodiversity and climate resilience are achieved through native, drought-resistant plants and materials.
36% increase in tree shade
Between SW 13th Street and SW 19th Avenue, the second phase of The Underline was completed in April 2024. Nicknamed the “Hammock Trail”, this 2.14-mile segment offers three amenity areas: the Hammock Playground, the Vizcaya Station Plaza, and the Rain Garden. Safety, nature, and community are the top priorities here. Safety comes from safe biking and walking paths, better lighting and increased crossings. Nature includes native vegetation like trees, plants, and grasses that support The Underline master plan restoration of the several local ecosystems. And community comes from public art and hundreds of free community programmes.
Phase 2 of the project also includes large-scale green infrastructure like the project’s first of many bioswales and below-ground drainage. These will help with stormwater flooding and runoff, supporting Miami’s aspiration of becoming a sponge city.
Read why we need more trees in cities.
Other elements of phase 2 are a 36% increase in tree shade canopy, resting areas along the path, hydration stations, a bike repair station, bike racks, doggie bag dispensers, trash and recycling receptacles, and LED lighting that is Dark Sky compliant. There is also free public Wifi.
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Featuring separate pedestrian and off-road bicycle paths, The Underline is designed to minimize conflicts between different modes of transportation. The bicycle path’s geometry is always straight and perpendicular to intersection crossings to ensure proper visibility. Credit: Sam Oberter
Located across from the Game Room, the Dining Room features a 50-foot-long communal dining table can fit up to 56 people and accommodates wheelchairs. Combined with benches for commuters, this becomes a dynamic and social space throughout the day. Credit: Sam Oberter
Re-naturalising Florida
The last and longest stretch of The Underline is currently under construction. It will stretch for 7.36 miles (11.8 km) and connect several communities including the City of Miami, City of Coral Gables, City of South Miami, and Dadeland. A total of seven segments will have designated paths for cyclists and pedestrians, making improvements to 25 intersections, and creating 12 community spaces with diverse programming. Over 100,000 residents live within a 10-minute walk of the trail and will benefit from the third phase.
The expected year of completion for phase 3 is 2026. Like with the other phases, an intensive community engagement process held in various neighbourhoods preceded construction. Eight meetings took place over 10 months in both English and Spanish and results will be reflected in community spaces, cultural offers, art, and many other programmes. One of them is the Underline Plaza next to Douglas MetroRail Station, which will feature local food vendours with Bahamian, Haitian, and Latin heritage, as well as an urban beach.
Eventually, the third part of The Underline in Miami will have almost 4,000 trees, which is a 62.5% increase in canopy. These trees are part of the vision of re-naturalising South Florida. They will sequester carbon, increase biodiversity, and mitigate heat and sound pollution. Other elements like oolite gardens, prairie glades, pine rocklands, hardwood hammock micro-forests, stormwater gardens, butterfly gardens, and riparian planting throughout the extension will make the linear park even more environmentally friendly.
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The Promenade is a host for cultural programming events organized by Friends of The Underline. At the Gym, Friends of The Underline offers free health and wellness programs throughout the year, as well as athletic programs with local partners. Credit: Friends of The Underline (1, 2), the Miami Heat (3, 5), and Miami-Dade County (4)
The River Room is a space of respite, offering views of the Miami River and seating areas with oolite coral stone boulders, offering an inviting space for residents and their pets. Credit: Robin Hill
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