Phase 2 Of Miami’s Underline Park – Vizcaya Station – Opens In Coconut Grove
Coconut Grove is now connected directly to the Brickell Financial District by way of a linear park!
The second phase of The Underline, a linear park that follows the Metrorail lines from the Miami River to Dadeland Mall, has opened. This second phase has been coined Vizcaya Station/Hammock Trail after the Metrorail Station at the southern end of the phase.
Designed with New York’s High Line and Chicago’s 606 Trail linear parks in mind, The Underline is Miami-Dade County’s latest efforts to improve safety of the residents walking and riding bicycles between urban neighborhoods while also increasing the beautification and usability of the space. The effort has also boosted native vegetation and encouraged community in what was once a dead space.
Vizcaya Station/Hammock Trail
Connecting Brickell and Coconut Grove at the intersection of SW13th Street and the Miami Metrorail (locals will recognize the 13th Street/Coral Way Publix right there), the Vizcaya Station phase runs for 2.14 miles along the rail line to north Coconut Grove at SW 19th Avenue.
Construction on the project began in 2021 after a resounding success of the “Brickell Backyard” section that previously opened.
Within the Vizcaya Station/Hammock Trail stretch, visitors will enjoy three main amenity areas including:
The Hammock Playground
At 15th Road and SW 1st Avenue, the project has included an all-ages and nature-inspired playground with a public art display that rotates a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year.
Vizcaya Station Plaza
Locals will recognize Vizcaya Station as a spot that really has a lot of potential but is sort of hidden away and maybe not safe to visit alone because it is tucked away.
With the introduction of The Underline and its subsequent redesign, this space is now incredibly family-friendly and inviting. The county has introduced new seating, lighting and native landscaping with a space to host community programs and markets.
They have even incorporated a meditation labyrinth for locals who are seeking a spot for serenity in their hectic lives.
You can find a list of community events on The Underline’s website or their social media page with information on how to register and join in.
The Rain Garden
Before it was an urban metropolis, Coconut Grove and Brickell were a dense hammock of lush greenery that served as a barrier for tropical storms and cooled the natural species. The Underline’s Rain Garden section provides a reforestation effect with over 100,000 new native plants and trees with a series of bioswales that collect and filter rainwater.
It is a little known fact that if you venture into the thick of nearby Simpson Park in the dead of summer, the temperature can be as much as ten degrees lower due to the natural habitat that has been preserved.
Brickell Backyard
The first phase of the project to be undertaken was the half-mile stretch from the Miami River to SW 13th Street dubbed the “Brickell Backyard.”
Within the Brickell Backyard, locals have enjoyed a butterfly garden, dog run, an outdoor gym and hydration stations, places for bicycle repair, and shaded seating on native oolitic limestone benches. The native oolitic rock existed along the track for decades but now has been incorporated into the beautification and usability project, and has served the community very well.
Locals also enjoy the biking and walking paths as well as complimentary wifi. It is a true urban oasis that exceeded everyone’s expectations for the space and the community.
Dadeland South
With the Vizcaya Station phase now connecting North Grove to Brickell, the final phase to be undertaken will the the 7-mile stretch from Coconut Grove to Dadeland.
The final phase – the 7.36 mile stretch from Coconut Grove to Dadeland is set to open in 2026 and is the most ambitious yet.
When completed, The Underline will span through Miami, Coral Gables, South Miami as well as Unincorporated Miami-Dade County and focus on safe multi-modal transportation nature and community.
There are currently 12 amenity areas planned that include a Bark Park in Coral Gables, an outdoor fitness station on Ponce de Leon behind the fire station, rain gardens, stormwater ponds, pickleball and basketball courts, flex space for performances and educational events and a skate park.
We are so excited to see this modern and innovative solution to the woes of urban growth. The incorporation of local and natural climate-friendly intitiatives that can also bring the community together in a safe environment is something we will always support. Hopefully we will see you along The Underline at an event soon!
If you are interested in speaking more specifically about a neighborhood, project or listing, please contact Michael Light, Broker and Executive Director of Luxury Sales at Douglas Elliman. You may reach Michael directly at (786) 566-1700 or via email at moc.semohyruxulimaim@leahcim.
Images Courtesy of The Underline
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