Miami’s New Underline Park Carves a Leafy Pathway Through the Heart of the City

A barren space beneath Miami’s Metrorail tracks has been transformed into a lush landscape for relaxation and recreation.

Feb 26, 2021 - 19:17

Miami’s New Underline Park Carves a Leafy Pathway Through the Heart of the City

A barren space beneath Miami’s Metrorail tracks has been transformed into a lush landscape for relaxation and recreation.

A yoga class takes place on the Promenade’s Sound Stage Plaza, sponsored by Florida Power & Light.

After years of anticipation and fundraising, the first phase of the Underline in Miami officially opens today. Dubbed Brickell Backyard, the $16.5-million, half-mile project is the first section in what will eventually be a 10-mile-long linear park with 120 acres of open space.

Located in one of the densest areas of Miami-Dade County, Brickell Backyard faced "complicated construction conditions," says Irene Hegedus, Underline project manager at the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works. In addition to accommodating all transit lines with traffic improvements, the seven-block section required the installation of electrical lines and soil remediation—two of the biggest cost contributors—as part of its transformation into a safe, open public space.

Robin Hill

The idea for the project stems from an unfortunate incident—in 2013, Meg Daly broke both of her elbows in a cycling accident. Unable to drive, she began taking the Metrorail to physical therapy and, while walking on a threadbare asphalt path beneath the tracks to the train, wondered if the underutilized space could be transformed into a park for the community.

Inspired by the success of the High Line in New York City, Daly left her job as the owner of a marketing agency to launch The Friends of the Underline, a nonprofit that advocates for the project and has secured over $120 million of funding for construction.