On Saturday, August 15, 2026, The Underline’s newest amenity opened to families with a lively ribbon cutting celebration attended by City of South Miami, Miami-Dade County officials, The Friends of The Underline and featured children’s activities, a kid’s concert, face painting and micro forest plantings.
Event Photos: Avant Garde Media and The Underline
The Nikki Spoelstra Play Forest is The Underline’s first designated playground amenity. Located adjacent to South Miami City Hall at 6130 Sunset Drive, the new space gives children and families a dedicated destination for outdoor play and connection with nature, made possible by a $500,000 gift from Nikki Spoelstra to Friends of The Underline.
The Play Forest includes log balance beams, stepping logs and natural play elements for climbing, balancing and exploring, along with musical chimes and sensory trail features. The design uses natural materials rather than traditional playground equipment and connects directly to The Underline’s bike and pedestrian path.
In speaking to the attendees, Spoelstra, a third-generation Miamian inspired by childhood memories exploring Fairchild Tropical Garden with her grandmother commented that “this space is really about play, nature, curiosity, belonging and togetherness. I wanted to create something where children and families could feel that same sense of wonder of discovering something just around the corner, and of following your curiosity to see where it takes you.”
Eulois Cleckley, CEO of Friends of The Underline noted that “Nikki Spoelstra’s generosity, combined with the collaboration of our municipal and county partners, is exactly the kind of public-private partnership that makes spaces like this possible; this is what The Underline is built on.”
The grand opening celebration ran from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and included a live family concert by Jam with Jamie as part of the Levitt BLOC Miami Music Series, along with face painting and arts and crafts. Families in attendance had the first opportunity to explore the new playground, which sits directly behind the South Miami Branch library.
City of South Miami Commissioners Steve Calle and Danny Rodriguez welcomed the attendees to the city campus.
Talking about the impact of The Underline were (L-R) Stacy L. Miller, Director MDC Transportation & Public Works Dept., Christine Yormack, the Friends of The Underline board member and treasurer and South Miami Hospital’s CEO.
A FUN-TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.
Photo portrait: SOMI Magazine
The event included participation from Mack Cycle and Fitness, the Miami-Dade Public Library System, Baptist Health, Epic Party Entertainment, The Doodle Sisters, Pura Vida, Playa Bowls, State of Kid, Café Con Lu and Sweet Lichi’s.
MIRCOFOREST PLANTED BY EVENT PARTICIPANTS
The Underline’s horticulturalist team was on site, guiding attendees as they planted trees and vegetation in the micro forest adjacent to the park. The small and dense forests planted in urban and rural areas aim to increase tree canopy. Two micro forest plantings along The Underline will create 2,600 square feet of forest, with more than 1,300 native plants and trees.
The micro forest plantings are sponsored by TD Bank.
Photos: SOMI Magazine
ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLINE
ABOUT FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLINE
Friends of The Underline is the nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, activation, and stewardship of The Underline, a 10-mile linear park, urban trail, and living art destination transforming the land beneath Miami’s Metrorail into a world-class public space. The Underline connects communities through nature, music, art, wellness, and year-round events and activations. With more than 200 free programs annually, The Underline has become a vibrant gathering place for residents and visitors alike. When complete, it will span from the Miami River in Brickell to the Dadeland South Metrorail Station in Kendall. Learn more at www.theunderline.org.