On Thursday, April 16, 2015 at the University of Miami School of Architecture’s Korach Gallery, 6-8 PM, an estimated 120 people attended the first of three Underline Public Meetings for the James Corner Field Operations master plan design team to gather input from the community.

Focused on the Coral Gables, South Miami and Dadeland areas of the future Underline, attendees heard from public officials and the master plan design team and then broke into interactive stations.

Meg Daly, Founder of Friends of the Underline opened the meeting. She thanked the University of Miami for hosting the event, welcomed the residents, and acknowledged Vice Mayor Harris, Commissioners Welsh and Edmond from the City of South Miami, Roger Pou from Miami-Dade County Commissioner Xavier Suarez’ office, Vice Mayor Bob Ross from the Village of Pinecrest, Johanna Cervone from Miami-Dade County Commissioner Daniela Levine-Cava’s office, and the team from James Corner Field Operations.

South Miami Mayor Phillip Stoddard thanked Meg Daly for her efforts on The Underline.  Pinecrest Vice Mayor Bob Ross noted that the Village of Pinecrest endorsed The Underline. He also asked that the existing vegetation that was planted by TREEmendous be preserved where possible and that future planting use native plants to minimize maintenance costs.

Lisa Switkin, Principal with James Corner Field Operations,  introduced the company’s work to the audience with the aid of a Powerpoint slide presentation. Through a competitive process, the team was selected to develop a Master Plan for The Underline and it is projected to be completed within a 6 month period.

James Corner Field Operations is an urban design, landscape architecture and public realm practice based in New York. They are noted for their design work for the High Line in New York. At the time, she said, the 1.5 mile project seemed to be impossible. However, their design converted a blighted, abandoned rail line into a beloved icon in New York. Its original purpose as a park morphed into additional benefits, such as engaging the many neighborhoods through which it passed to becoming a social promenade. She showed and discussed examples other projects they had worked on including The Atlanta Beltline, Nicollet Mall in Minneapolis, Antwerp Green in Belgium, Central Waterfront in Seattle, an upcoming project for Lincoln Road in Miami Beach and the Knight Plaza which connects the Perez Art Museum Miami and the Phillip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science, which are in Museum Park in Miami.

The design team views The Underline as the “spine” for existing completed and proposed bike trails. The Underline will provide 120 acres of open space, almost 10 miles long, passing through 8 Metrorail stations and 3 municipalities. It should allow for multi-modal transportation, should be an iconic public space, an ecological corridor, take advantage of the ample shade provide by the overhead MetroRail and have transit oriented development.  Some of the challenges for the future Underline include safety, lighting, path width, intersections, sharp turns, identity, wayfinding and user visibility.

What would make The Underline a great trail? Some of the components include looking at the project from various angles including:
1) Park and Trail – There should be multimodal corridors for various users. It should embrace bike culture, have excellent lighting, embrace local ecologies and habitats, green initiatives such as solar power and efficient use of water, helpful wayfinding and an identity;
2) Intersections – prioritize pedestrians and cyclists;
3) Transit Oriented Development – Development should be bike and pedestrian friendly. There should be development incentives in sections that are depressed.

The master plan is scheduled to be completed in late September.  A second set of public meetings will take place in late June. Included in the plan will be projected funding sources and maintenance costs.

City of Coral Gables Commissioner Pat Keon said that the City of Coral Gables was behind The Underline project. That the initiative would be a great asset to the community and the city wants to see it implemented. She thanked Meg Daly for her hard work and vision.

Isabel Castilla, Project Manager with James Corner Field Operations explained to the audience that the design team needed their input. She invited them to visit interactive stations. The stations were Themes, Uses, a 12-foot map of the trail for comment, and a graffiti board for miscellaneous comments. For the Themes and the Uses stations, Isabel asked guests to indicate their top two favorites among those proposed by placing a sticker on each. On the map, they should indicate which areas they use and any suggestions for those or other areas. The graffiti board was for any additional comments.

The Themes Board asked: What would attract you to The Underline? The selections were Ecology & Natural Habitats, Art & Culture, Health & Fitness, Stroll & Picnic, Green Technology & Sustainability, Shops & Restaurants, and Festivals & Events. Residents preferences were:

Art & Culture #1
Ecology & Natural Habitats #2
Health & Fitness #3
Stroll & Picnic #4
Shops & Restaurants #4 (tied with Stroll & Picnic)
Green Technology & Sustainability #6
Festivals & Events #7

The Uses boards asks: How would you use The Underline? Options include Art, Leisurely Walk, Restaurants & Cafes, Dog Walk, Metrorail Access, Enjoy Nature, Stroll & Picnic, Bike Commute, Outdoor Fitness, Attractions & Events, Family Activities, Run, Leisurely Bike Ride.

Bike Commute #1
Enjoy Nature #2
Leisurely Bike Ride #3
Restaurants & Cafes #4
Metrorail Access #4
Leisurely Walk #6
Run #7
Art #8
Outdoor Fitness #9
Attractions & Events #10
Dog Walk #10
Stroll & Picnic #10
Family Activities #13

Click here to access all photos from The Underline Coral Gables-to-Dadeland South Public Meeting.

Click here to access photos of all meeting boards.