Jessi Berrin, Reggie Laroche, & Meg Daly
The Underline is the name given to THE project to create a 10-mile urban trail and linear park from the Miami River to Dadeland South.
Friends of The Underline a 501(c)(3) non-profit advocating to transform the underutilized land below Miami’s Metrorail into a 10-mile linear park, urban trail and canvas for artistic expression are gearing up for a busy year full of fun activities and events to keep the community exciting about the future Underline.
Hey Miami, get to know The Underline, a project that will transform the way we live, work and play! As Director of Development for Baptist Health South Florida, our organization is a proud partner of The Underline, a ten mile linear park, urban trail, and public art destination, that has the potential to transform the overall health and well-being of our city and region by providing a safe path for walking and biking and promoting more active lifestyles. Over half of Miamians don’t get twenty minutes of exercise a day, greatly increasing the risk of major diseases. Conversely, 87% of residents don’t bike in Miami, because they see it as unsafe. The Underline will be the first safe, off-road facility for residents of all ages to recreate and commute.
In December, Baptist Health in partnership with Friends of The Underline unveiled a Meditation Garden at South Miami Hospital to improve the public’s physical and mental health. The Meditation Garden is the first point of activation along The Underline, and is an urban oasis intended to provide a serene setting for people to enjoy amid the rush of our everyday lives. On Saturday, May 11th, we’ll be hosting our first ever Underline DocWalk Series, which will begin at either Baptist Health’s Meditation Garden at South Miami Hospital or Doctors Hospital.
The DocWalk series was inspired by a Time Magazine article “Spending Just 20 Minutes in a Park Makes You Happier” that Baptist Health CEO, Brian Keeley, came across and shared with our team. The article summarizes the impactful findings of a study published in the International Journal of Environmental Health Research that shows “spending time outdoors, especially in green spaces, is one of the fastest ways to improve health and wellness.” Not only that, but the article also goes on to say being outdoors has been shown to “lower stress, blood pressure and heart rate, while encouraging physical activity and buoying mood and mental health.”
As Co-Chair of The Underline’s Health & Wellness Advisory Council, we want to encourage exercise enthusiasts to throw on a pair of comfortable shoes and join us for these upcoming free health and wellness events, powered by Baptist Health South Florida. Currently, we’re hosting monthly Yoga classes on Saturday mornings at Brickell City Centre where Yogis can get their downward dog on. In addition, we also have bike rides throughout the year taking place at various locations along The nderline. Our next bike ride will be held on Saturday, April 6th at 9:30am at the University Metrorail station.
It’s been a remarkable experience watching our community come together to transform our outdoor spaces to create something truly unique and special for Miami-Dade County. Kudos to the extraordinary work of Meg Daly and of The Underline Board of Directors, The Underline is becoming a reality for today and generations to come.
Written by:
Jessi Berrin
Director of Development,
Baptist Health South Florida &
Underline Health &
Wellness Advisory Co-Chair
