Friends Of The Underline Celebrates Milestone Anniversary And Expansion To Five Continuous Miles

Friends of The Underline commemorated the milestone with a “Five Years, Five Miles” ribbon cutting led by Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, District 7 County Commissioner Raquel Regalado, City of Coral Gables Mayor Vince Lago and Commissioner Rhonda Anderson and the Miami-Dade County Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTPW), as well as key public, private, and philanthropic partners who have played a role in bringing The Underline to life.

“This is what it looks like when Infrastructure puts people first,” stated Mayor of Miami-Dade County Daniella Levine Cava. “The Underline is transforming underutilized space into something that improves daily life by creating safer ways to move, more opportunities to connect, and a shared place for our community to come together. Reaching five miles in five years is a meaningful milestone for Miami-Dade County.”

The Underline’s achievement reflects the leadership and coordination with Miami-Dade County and its agencies, including the Mayor’s Office, Board Of County Commissioners, and DTPW, alongside critical construction and operations contributions from the cities of Miami, Coral Gables, and South Miami, the Florida Department of Transportation, the U.S. Department of Transportation, and a growing network of philanthropic and private sector partners.

“Projects like The Underline require clear vision, strong partnerships, and the discipline to deliver,” highlighted Raquel Regalado, Miami-Dade County Commissioner, District 7. “This milestone shows what’s possible when we invest in Infrastructure that not only connects communities, but also strengthens how our county grows, moves, and plans for the future.”

Public and private partners have helped shape The Underline into a model for collaboration, where Infrastructure, programming, and community engagement come together to create lasting public value.

“Five years ago, we opened the first half-mile segment of The Underline beginning community promise to transform an overlooked space into a community asset that connects all of Miami and creates a safe alternative for multimodal use. Today, five years later, seeing people using these five miles on The Underline validates our vision and mission,” said Meg Daly, Founder and Chair of Friends of The Underline.

“The Underline offers a national blueprint and a new standard for delivering connected, multimodal Infrastructure that enhances how people move through and experience urban spaces,” noted Eulois Cleckley, CEO of Friends of The Underline. “These five continuous miles have created an important mobility corridor that improves safety, expands access, and strengthens connectivity across Miami’s urban core.”

With the opening of Segment 4, The Underline extends its reach into new neighborhoods, reinforcing its role as a connected mobility corridor for walking, biking serving as and access to transit a civic asset for the city and county.

“This milestone represents another step forward in transforming how people move in Miami-Dade County. This nearly one-mile stretch of The Underline between 27th and 37th Avenues, is yet another example of what strong partnerships can achieve, building five of 10 total miles in five years. It creates a safer, more connected corridor that enhances access to transit and each other. It strengthens our communities and keeps Miami-Dade moving forward,” remarked Stacy L. Miller, P.E., Director of Miami-Dade County’s Department of Transportation and Public Works.

Through its “Five Years, Five Miles” campaign, Friends of The Underline is reflecting on its journey, sharing milestones, programming, and partnerships across digital and social platforms. For updates on events and activities, follow @theunderlinemia on Facebook and Instagram.

To learn about how you can donate and volunteer, please visit: www.theunderline.org.

About Friends Of The Underline

Friends of The Underline is the nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, activation, and stewardship of The Underline, a 10-mile linear park, urban trail, and living art destination transforming the land beneath Miami’s Metrorail into a world-class public space. The Underline connects communities through nature, music, art, wellness, and year-round events and activations. With more than 200 free programs annually, The Underline has become a vibrant gathering place for residents and visitors alike. When complete, it will span from the Miami River in Brickell to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station in Kendall. Learn more at: www.theunderline.org.