Meg Daly

FOUNDER OF FRIENDS OF THE UNDERLINE

It was thirteen years ago when life-long Gables resident Meg Daly broke both arms in a bicycle accident. Unable to drive, she had to ride the Metrorail to reach her physical therapist. Walking underneath its overhead tracks, she had an epiphany that the space could be activated similarly to New York City’s High Line, which transformed a former elevated railroad into a 1.5 mile-long linear urban park. She started making progress with funding and awareness after 2015, when a University of Miami architecture class created renderings that brought her idea to life. In the end she obtained pledges of more than $140 million for the project, including a crucial federal grant of $22.3 million in 2019. Among the contributors was the City of Coral Gables, which added $7 million to the funding. The goal: transform a 10-mile stretch of land under the MetroRail, from the Miami River south through Miami, Coral Gables and South Miami, into parks, athletic courts, bicycle trails, kayak drops, and landscaped enclaves for use by the public. 

MOST RECENTLY 

Originally projected for completion in 2035, construction on the Underline has proceeded so rapidly that the project – at least the 3 miles in Coral Gables – should be completed by the end of this year. What Coral Gables can expect are the Chewy Bark Park (done), an Urban Beach, an outdoor gym, the rock ridge plaza, a kayak launch, the Pineland Courts, and more. With construction costs now covered, the next hurdle is how to pay for maintenance. While Daly served as volunteer CEO of the non-profit Friends of the Underline for 11 years, that role has gone to Eulois Cleckley. Daly remains the Executive Chair but is more focused on her role as Chairwoman of The Underline Conservancy, which oversees the park’s maintenance and programming. 

WHAT SHE SAYS 

“When I [originally] shopped the concept, to anybody who would listen, it was like this crazy idea,” she says. “Fortunately, there were a lot of people who didn’t think it was crazy, they thought it was something they could help with.” As for the rapid construction, Daly says its been a boon. “In projects like this time is not on your side. The longer you take the shiny penny just starts to look a little tarnished, like you can’t deliver.” As for the mission, and being influenced by the High Line, Daly says, “It’s sort of like we’re reclaiming this land, which had one purpose, and giving it more [purposes]. I was totally influenced by the High Line in New York, which I still think is magical. Dade County deserves something like that – and we can do things they can’t, like bicycling and skateboarding. I’m not saying it’s better, but…”