The Underline Miami park trail and nature corridor is transforming unused land into a 10-mile green space that connects communities, restores habitats, and supports sustainable urban mobility.
In a city known for traffic, heat, and dense development, The Underline Miami park trail and nature corridor is reimagining what urban space can look like. Stretching beneath Miami’s elevated Metrorail tracks, the project is transforming 120 acres of underutilized land into a 10-mile linear park, urban trail, and public gathering space. What was once overlooked infrastructure is becoming a connected corridor for nature, mobility, and community.
The Underline Miami park trail and nature corridor runs from the Miami River in downtown to the Dadeland South station, linking multiple neighborhoods along the way. Designed as both a transportation route and a public park, it combines walking and cycling paths with green spaces, art installations, and community areas.
At its core, the project is about connection. By linking eight Metrorail stations and surrounding neighborhoods, The Underline creates a continuous pathway that encourages people to move through the city without relying on cars.
This focus on mobility is paired with a strong environmental component. The Underline Miami park trail and nature corridor incorporates native plants, restored habitats, and green infrastructure designed to support biodiversity and improve urban resilience. Thousands of trees and native plants are being introduced along the corridor, helping reduce heat, improve air quality, and create habitat for birds and pollinators.
The project also includes features such as rain gardens and stormwater systems that help manage flooding, an increasingly important issue in coastal cities like Miami. These elements demonstrate how urban design can integrate nature-based solutions into everyday infrastructure.
Beyond environmental benefits, The Underline is designed to serve people. The corridor includes spaces for exercise, recreation, and social interaction, from playgrounds and sports areas to shaded seating and performance spaces. This combination of functions reflects a broader shift in how cities approach public space. Rather than separating transportation, recreation, and nature, projects like The Underline bring them together into a single, multifunctional environment.
The idea for the project originated with Meg Daly, who saw potential in the unused land beneath the Metrorail tracks. What began as a personal observation grew into a large-scale initiative involving public agencies, private partners, and community organizations.
Community involvement has been central to the project’s development. Public workshops and local input have helped shape the design, ensuring that the spaces reflect the needs of the neighborhoods they serve. As a result, The Underline Miami park trail and nature corridor is not just a park, but a shared community asset. It is designed to be accessible, inclusive, and responsive to its users.
The project’s impact is already visible in completed sections, such as the “Brickell Backyard,” which has become a popular destination for residents and visitors. These early phases show how underused urban land can be transformed into vibrant public spaces.
Over time, the full corridor is expected to serve tens of thousands of residents living within walking distance. Studies suggest that more than 100,000 people will be within a 10-minute walk of the completed trail, highlighting its potential as a major urban resource.
The Underline also contributes to climate goals by promoting alternative transportation. Making walking and cycling safer and more appealing helps reduce reliance on cars and lowers transportation-related emissions. At the same time, the project supports social connections. Events, public art, and shared spaces encourage interaction, helping build a stronger sense of community in a city where neighborhoods are often disconnected.
Despite its progress, the project is still under development. The final phase is expected to be completed in the coming years, expanding the corridor and adding new features along the route.
When finished, The Underline Miami park trail and nature corridor will stand as one of the most ambitious examples of urban transformation in North America. It shows how cities can rethink overlooked spaces and turn them into assets that benefit both people and the environment.
In doing so, it offers a model for other cities facing similar challenges. By combining mobility, nature, and community, The Underline demonstrates that urban infrastructure can be more than functional; it can also be restorative.
