More images reveal what James Corner’s Underline project will look like
Jason Sayer
At night, the proposed University Station facade will glow softly to illuminate the plaza. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
A typical stretch of the Underline today has one shared path and minimal
planting. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The future Underline will feature a wider, dedicated bike path and a separate
pedestrian path, shaded by native plants that provide habitat for birds and butterflies. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
Soft, uniform lighting along the Underline will enhance safety and usage, as
well as highlight the Metrorail structure. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The existing northern end of the Underline, at the Miami River, has a dead-end path and no connection to the sidewalk. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The future “river room” features oolite seating steps, orienting visitors toward views of the river and downtown Miami. paths that connect to nearby pedestrian and
bike routes reinforce connections to the Miami River Greenway, across the river and into downtown. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
Underutilized space beneath the Metrorail guideway, north of Brickell Station. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The future “brickell gym” will activate the space between the Metrorail
columns and provide much-needed recreational opportunities for Brickell residents. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The approach to Brickell Station today features oolite outcroppings. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The future approach to Brickell Station will be a gathering space for residents, showcasing the existing oolite outcrop. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
(Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The proposed “hammock trail” will feature species inspired by the historic
brickell hammock with opportunities for nature education and inventive play. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
Existing corridor near sW 24th Ave. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The proposed “grove gallery,” near the Coconut Grove Metrorail station, creates the opportunity to connect to existing businesses by offering a social space for gathering, strolling, and art. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The area approaching the Douglas Road Metrorail station today. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
Cyclists and runners will be able to stop, tune-up, and exchange routes at the
midpoint of the Underline, near the Douglas Road Metrorail station. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The existing University Station plaza. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The future University Station plaza will reduce conflicts between cyclists
and pedestrians by reorganizing circulation. a freestanding solar panel rain screen will showcase green technologies, provide power to the plaza, and highlight the station as a green tech demonstration. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
At night, the proposed University Station facade will glow softly to illuminate the plaza. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
Parking lots fill much of the current corridor near University Station. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
At the “rain garden,” a small outdoor amphitheater will provide space for performances, artists, and spectators. During storm events, rain water will flow through swales planted with water-loving native species, replenishing groundwater resources and minimizing the impact on municipal sewers. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The shared bike and pedestrian path is bordered by parking on both sides, near University Station. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
At the “ribbon rink”, an undulating concrete topography creates a playful space for all types of wheels, from bikes to scooters to skateboards.
(Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The “ribbon rink” can be used for events at night. lighting installations or
public art can highlight the Metrorail structure. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
A pedestrian and cyclist bridge provides a safe elevated crossing over red road and US-1/Dixie Highway, one of the more complicated intersections along the Underline. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The current garden adjacent to the underline corridor at South Miami Hospital, part of Baptist Health South Florida. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The future South Miami Hospital “healing garden” will feature native therapeutic plants and will open onto the underline, promoting interaction between users of both spaces. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The existing corridor approaching Dadeland North Metrorail station. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
The future Underline segment between Dadeland North and Dadeland South
metrorail stations will focus on active recreation and connections to nearby trails. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
A pop-up preview of James Corner Field Operations’(JCFO) “Brickell Backyard” will be unveiled Tuesday next week. The temporary mini-gym and fitness area has been designed and installed by Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation and will provide a six-month sneak preview of what is to come for the Underline project.
The event will signal the start of the Underline’s first stage of development. It’s the precursor to the “Brickell Underline Park,” a northern section of the Underline located near the Miami River. The park aims to breathe new life into the ten-mile stretch of underused land beneath Miami’s Metrorail, transforming it into a linear park, urban trail and living art destination. Once complete, the area will offer picnic areas, park benches, native vegetation, a nature-inspired playground, a dog park, basketball court, and art installations. In addition to this, further mixed-use parks are planned for other parts of the Underline, all of which come under JCFO’s master plan for the site.
Cyclists and runners will be able to stop, tune-up, and exchange routes at the midpoint of the Underline, near the Douglas Road Metrorail station. (Courtesy James Corner Field Operations / Friends of the Underline)
According to the Underline website, the project is “aimed at encouraging Miami-Dade residents to walk, bike or ride transit as an alternative to driving… [it] will serve as an enhanced mobility corridor, designed to better connect communities, improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and promote a healthier lifestyle with accessible green spaces and park amenities for exercise and relaxation.”
The Underline is the product of a public/private partnership among Miami-Dade Parks, Miami-Dade Transportation and Public Works, and Friends of The Underline. It also fits within the county’s wider scheme of the Masterplan Greenway network that comprises 500 miles of trails and connected public spaces.
As for the Underline’s “Brickell Backyard” fitness area, funding for the pop-up gym equipment—amounting to a total of $47,000—will come from the Community Outlay Reserve Funds (CORF).
