What used to be a strip of concrete and shadows under Miami’s Metrorail is quickly turning into a favorite neighborhood hangout. The Underline, a long-awaited linear park beneath the elevated tracks, is starting to feel complete even before crews close out the final stretch. Neighbors say they are already relying on its shade-lined paths, playgrounds and outdoor gyms for errands, dog walks and workouts. With Phase 3 moving toward completion this year, the project is sliding into daily life from Brickell to Dadeland.
A 10-Mile Corridor Drawing Millions
According to The Underline, the project is a 10-mile linear park and urban trail that runs from Brickell to Dadeland and now draws nearly 3 million visits a year. The Underline lists playgrounds, dog parks, outdoor gyms, public art and regular free programming among its permanent features, turning what was once leftover space into a full-time community corridor.
Phase 3: What’s Left To Finish
According to Miami-Dade County, Phase 3 covers a 7.36-mile segment running from SW 19th Avenue near the Vizcaya Metrorail station to Dadeland South and is expected to be completed in 2026. The county says the final build will add about 1,800 trees and roughly 350,000 native plants. It will also install bioswales, Dark Sky-compliant LED lighting, hydration stations and upgrades to intersections intended to improve safety and drainage.
Neighbors Say It Already Feels Like A New Neighborhood
Residents interviewed by local TV say they are already treating parts of The Underline like neighborhood streets, using it to walk dogs, run errands and commute by bike instead of hopping in the car. "You can walk, you can bike, and you can do it safely," The Underline's founder Meg Daly told WSVN, while other users described daily trips to the grocery store and long dog walks as part of their new normal along the trail.
Green Investments, Events And Early Wins
Friends of The Underline and its partners have planted microforests and launched stewardship programs to care for new gardens and pollinator plantings, and the nonprofit says corporate grants helped fund the first microforests, per The Underline. Local reporting also shows fundraising momentum: the Biscayne Bay Tribune reported the 2026 Sneaker Ball raised more than $1 million for programming, while recent openings have added dog-friendly play areas and free fitness classes that keep the corridor busy from early morning into the evening.
A Mobility Corridor, Not Just A Park
Planners say The Underline is meant to be more than a pretty green strip. By linking to eight Metrorail stations and improving crossings and bike infrastructure, the corridor is designed to make short trips by foot or bike a realistic alternative to driving. Miami-Dade officials say that better access to transit and safer crossings could cut congestion on nearby streets and gradually shift everyday travel choices across Coral Gables, South Miami and Brickell.
Construction advisories and detours are still posted in some Phase 3 segments, but residents and park organizers tell WSVN the benefits are already visible in day-to-day life. As the final elements are installed later this year, officials and Friends of The Underline expect more public art, expanded programming and new stewardship opportunities to follow.
