We are excited to announce The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation’s matching grant of $250,000 which underlines its commitment to building a better Miami with transformative projects that will attract young talent and foster civic engagement.

“The Underline aims to create a thriving, connected Miami that will incentivize young talent to live and stay in the city and encourage the type of entrepreneurship that is vital to a healthy innovation ecosystem,” said Matt Haggman, Knight Foundation program director for Miami. “Involving the public in the planning process will help realize these goals and create a forum for ideas and collaboration.”

The Underline was recently recognized as the winner of the prestigious “Pitching the City 2015” international design competition presented by Architzer and The Municipal Art Society of New York. In addition to creating spaces where residents can walk, bike and gather, the 10-mile linear park and urban trail aims to connect the county’s diverse neighborhoods and urban core, creating quality-of-life improvements to attract and retain skilled workers, and open opportunities for entrepreneurs and businesses.

“The Underline is a big idea, but Miami has big need. We believe The Underline’s implementation will catalyze big-vision transportation initiatives and solutions and connected green spaces that our community so desperately needs,” said Meg Daly, founder of Friends of The Underline.

“The Underline is the spine of the Miami-Dade Parks Master Plan greenways/trails system that extends throughout Miami-Dade County,” said Miami-Dade Parks’ Maria Nardi, chief of planning and design. “It is a transformative project that will provide Miami with an alternative transportation corridor and iconic public space to connect neighborhood residents and benefit people throughout the region. The Underline is a great example of how partnerships, innovative thinking and amazing park and public space initiatives can distinguish Miami as one of the best cities in the world. It will be the longest linear urban corridor directly connected to transit to link diverse neighborhoods and provide greater access to green space, and make a park only a few minutes walk to thousands of residents living in the area.”

James Corner Field Operations, the landscape architecture firm that designed the High Line in New York, was selected through a competitive process to develop the master plan. The planning process will engage experts, civic leaders and residents to ensure the project reflects the needs and preferences of the community.

Support for The Underline forms one part of Knight Foundation’s efforts to invest in Miami-Dade’s emerging innovators and entrepreneurs as a tool to build community, while fostering talent and expanding economic opportunity. Over the past three years Knight has made more than 100 investments in entrepreneurship in South Florida.

About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation

Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. The foundation believes that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit knightfoundation.org