Our Community’s Recommendations
Commun i t y R e c ommen d a t ions R e p o r t Subm i t t e d to the C i t y o f M i ami
As a uniquely productive public and private sector collaboration, this community-centered municipal project is supported by an involved group of civic, business, and philanthropic leaders, adjacent landowners, small business owners, nonprofits, and residents known as the Underdeck Committee.
In 2021, The Underdeck Committee entered into a formal partnership with the City of Miami, committing to provide community-driven recommendations to inform how the Underdeck should be designed, governed, operated, maintained, and funded.
Throughout the years, the people of Miami have remained the focal point in the development of recommendations for the Underdeck. Members of our community have played pivotal roles on the Underdeck Committee, its Working Groups, and as participants in community meetings and forums. The culmination of this collaborative work is a comprehensive recommendations report
submitted to the City of Miami.
Recommendations for the future development, management, and operation of The Underdeck were submitted by the Underdeck Executive Committee in accordance with the deliverables defined in the MOU. The Report was submitted on December 5, 2022 and can be found here in the Underdeck Committee Report.
Committee Engagement by the Numbers
Organizations Represented
Executive Committee Members
Working Groups
Working Groups Meetings
Stakeholders Participating and Sharing Their Insights
Stakeholder Subscribers
Members of Working Groups
2022 Underdeck Committee Recommendations Report Highlights
The planning of a legacy greenscape with the projected scope and community impact of the Underdeck required the establishment of Working Groups to address the various components of its development.
Please find some of the key highlights of the recommendations presented below with links to their respective sections in the comprehensive report where you can review their content in detail.
Government, Project Management & Strategic Oversight
25 Committee members
13 Organizations
29 Working Group meetings
Stakeholder Awareness, Education & Engagement
17 Committee members
17 Organizations
40 Working Group meetings
Design, Construction, Operations & Maintenance
40 Committee members
14 Organizations
24 Working Group meetings
Funding Development
20 Committee members
8 Organizations
19 Working Group meetings
Traffic, Utilities, Mobility & Parking
22 Committee members
9 Organizations
17 Working Group meetings
Special Interest Groups Meeting attendees
34 Youth Engagement
24 Economic Development
Community Meetings
34 in-person/ 3 virtual
350+ attendees
Naming & Branding
2000+ Survey respondents
7 Focus groups
135+ Focus group members
Consensus Design
The “Consensus Design” is the most recent iteration of the City’s plans for the Underdeck, bringing together the public’s call to maximize natural green areas, create safe crossings, showcase the culture and history of the area, and provide spaces for community gatherings. The Consensus Design features a one-mile long trail connecting Overtown to the Biscayne Bay, 15 acres of urban gardens, 12 acres of pathways and plazas, about 1,250 trees, three playgrounds, a splash pad, an amphitheater, a signature pedestrian bridge, a multi-use court, a dog play area, two parking lots, food and beverage sites, and an interactive water fountain.
In 2022, the Underdeck Executive Committee agreed to support the Consensus Design, approving its use as the basis for the Underdeck Committee’s recommendations on how the new public space should
be developed, operated, maintained, and programmed.
View the Concept Design Video
see video
Recommendation Summary
Stakeholder Education & Engagement
For more details on the work and recommendations of the Stakeholder Engagement Working Group please click here
To ensure that the Underdeck truly becomes an interactive public space that brings Miami together, the Underdeck Committee has been proactive and intentional in gathering community and stakeholder input, with a priority on facilitating meaningful engagement among Overtown residents.
Throughout the year, there has been a concerted effort to ensure the community is informed and has an opportunity to provide insights and feedback through the following:
- Community Meetings, held both in-person in various
locations throughout Overtown and Downtown, and through meetings held virtually via Zoom - Development of committees focused on engagement of small businesses and youth
- Community Liaison outreach throughout the community
- Digital surveys
- Underdeckmiami.com, an information portal that provides website visitors with information about the project and keeps stakeholders up to date on current activities and meetings
- The Underdeck Chronicle, a digital newsletter distributed to
stakeholders on our mailing list - Media relations to increase awareness
Governance
For more details on the recommendations addressing Governance please click here
The Underdeck Committee recommends a governance structure that is truly a public-private partnership, positioned to prioritize the needs of the community. The recommended bylaws outline a conservancy model that contemplates an agreement between public and private entities for the development, improvement, operating and programming of the public space. As recommended by this Working Group, governance of the Underdeck would have Board oversight initially consisting of a minimum of twenty-four (24) Directors and a maximum of twenty-seven (27) Directors. Board Membership would be representative of City, County and State leadership, with majority representation from the community itself.
Management Framework
The Operational Management Plan provides recommendations for the future Management Agreement that would be negotiated between the City of Miami and the Conservancy. This framework addresses the need for supporting local employment and programming opportunities for The Underdeck, which were key requests from the community, as well as making recommendations for the management infrastructure.
For more details on the recommendations addressing Management Framework please click here
Funding
For more details on the Capital Funding Strategy please click here
For more details on the Operational Funding Strategy please click here
The cost to develop the Underdeck as shown in the Consensus Plan is estimated at $53 million. Annual Operations & Maintenance are estimated at $5.7 million per year. Fund Development recommendations to ensure that the community-prioritized elements can be realized were developed for both Capital Funding and Operations and Maintenance budgets.
Renaming The Underdeck
The City of Miami sought the Underdeck Committee’s help in the renaming of the Underdeck. Throughout the past year, the Underdeck Committee has been dedicated to gathering comprehensive public input and feedback to ensure that any proposed new name would be informed by community-informed priorities.
Prior to finalizing a recommended name, survey results, input from focus groups and one-on-one interviews through community meetings were factored into developing key themes and priorities. The name was developed after extensive discussion with residents and stakeholders across neighborhoods and was submitted by unanimous approval by the Governance and Stakeholder Engagements working group members to the Underdeck Executive Committee for consideration.
The name recommendation submitted to the City of Miami Commission for this iconic project:
Overtown Miami Greenway
THE HEART OF THE CITY
For more details on the Naming and Branding process please click here
Youth Engagement
The engagement of local youth is crucial to this legacy space. A Youth Engagement Initiative was executed this year where youth and young adults participated in interviews, interactive meetings, and a youth summit. These meetings provided and will continue to provide opportunities for discussion and feedback on the Underdeck’s design, programming and community impact from a youth perspective.
By getting involved at a young age, our young people can learn the value of having a voice and of being a participatory citizen.
For more details on Youth Engagement, please click here
Economic Development
A thriving public space means future opportunities and also potential changes for many local businesses along the Underdeck’s corridor. In October of this year, the Underdeck Committee held its inaugural Economic Development Special Interest Group meeting where business owners shared practical insights, current concerns and considerations for operations and maintenance of the public space and its potential impact on local businesses.
For more details on Economic Development please click here
About the Underdeck Project
“The Underdeck” is the current working name for the 33-acre public open space under the reconstructed I-395, which will serve as a multi-purpose green space connecting Overtown in the West to Biscayne Bay in the East.
Conceived with the design themes: Active, Connected, Authentic and Green, the Underdeck will offer a variety of outdoor amenities including: an amphitheater, event lawn, community plaza, children’s play area, dog play area, multi-use court and water feature. With ample space for public events and cultural activities, programming options for the Underdeck will be as diverse as the neighborhoods that this space connects.
It’s never too late to get Involved with the Underdeck. If you would like to join a Working Group, fill out a request form or contact Lisa Martinez at [email protected]
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