The Underline is a 10-mile linear park being developed in Miami-Dade County, Florida. When complete, it will run underneath the county's elevated Metrorail system from the Miami River near Brickell to the Metrorail's southern terminus at Dadeland South.
About Phase 1: The first phase of The Underline opened to the public on Friday, February 26, 2021. Named the “Brickell Backyard,” this first segment of the 10-mile linear park and trail is half a mile long and runs from the Miami River to Coral Way, encompassing the northernmost portion of The Underline.
The design for the Brickell Backyard by Field Operations is organized by a procession of “rooms,” each articulated with a unique program and design intent that directly responds to its immediate context and to the needs of the local community.
Goals and Priorities: Phase 1 is built on three key drivers: safe multi-modal transportation; nature; and community. Safety: safe biking and walking paths, lighting and improved crosswalks; Nature: native vegetation including trees, plants and grasses that support The Underline master plan for landscaping with a focus on pollinators supporting birds, bees and butterflies. Part of pre-construction efforts include soil remediation and botanical tree tagging for existing healthy trees. Community: From engaging public art to hundreds of free community programs, The Underline is a platform for community and everyone is welcome here.
Feature areas:
The River Room, offers a unique vantage point to views of the Miami River and includes butterfly gardens and a dog-friendly area, and much needed meditative, open, green space for residents and their pets (between Miami River and SW 7th St)
The Urban Gym, an active recreation space sponsored by Baptist Health South Florida with flex court for basketball and mini-pitch soccer sponsored by Swire Properties has spectator seating and areas for strength training and stretching, and spaces for group classes. A running track wraps around the Urban Gym with a 14-foot fence (between SW 7th and SW 8th Street)
The Promenade, a public walkway with pedestrian and bicycle dedicated paths punctuated by a series of rooms that promote social interaction (between SW 8th St and SW 10th St/Brickell Metrorail Station)
● Game room with individual tables for chess, checkers and dominoes lines the area along the east side of SW 1st Court.
● Dining room featuring 50-foot long communal table seats up to 50 people faces SW 1st Avenue.
● Sound stage plaza sponsored by Florida Power & Light provides comfortable places to gather for community events and programs or a space to watch the activity on The Underline.
The Oolite Room, a lush naturalized area featuring four butterfly gardens with seating of oolite boulders surround the dedicated bicycle and pedestrian paths, which run between the existing large oolite stone formations and directly beneath the Metrorail. (between SW 12th St and SW 13th St)