The Underline: RE alumni join forces to uplift Miami

Every foot of the three-stage, 120-acre linear park requires multiple layers of planning and work. And, indeed, much of that work has been carried out by someone with ties to Ransom Everglades. Rudy Prio Touzet ’76 is vice chair of Friends of The Underline. Maurice R. Ferré ’79 is an active tech council member. Arden Magoon Karson ’80 was a longtime board member and Debi Braman Wechsler ’78 is a current board member leading public art initiatives. Other RE alums and friends have supported the project: Leslie Miller Saiontz ’77 contributed as a donor;  Raymond Fort ’06 helped lead a vision design class about The Underline at the University of Miami School of Architecture; and Georgia Penn Noble ’74 served as a development committee member. RE student Danny Mendelson ’25, sister Hayley Mendson Smith '13 and mother Kim Gray Mendelson ’85 also assisted, helping to create a sustainability curriculum for visitors to the park.
 

“In everything Meg does, she’s a force of nature,” Ferré said. “She’s one of those dynamic leaders who has a vision and knows how to execute. Her cause is so noble. She is taking what was dead space and making it into something that will be a role model for future cities.”

Daly conceived of the idea of the linear park in 2013 after a bicycle accident left her with two broken arms and forced her to take the Metrorail around town. She noticed the neglected and underutilized swath of land underneath the elevated tracks, and began imagining how to transform the area into a multi-faceted urban trail modeled on Manhattan’s High Line – yet much bigger and more ambitious.

“She not only had the vision, but she’s been able to compel others to follow her dream,” Prio Touzet said. “To raise the money, get the support, it’s a remarkable achievement – I haven’t seen anything like this in my career.”

Her vision grew into a three-phase plan that has reached Stage 2 and is due to be finished in 2026. Stage 1, which was completed in 2020, includes a half-mile stretch of land from the Miami River to Coral Way that features 30,000 new native plants and trees; a River Room, a park adjacent to the river; The Urban Gym, an enclosed space with basketball courts, a soccer area, fitness equipment and running track; and The Promenade, a stretch with game tables and a sound stage for yoga classes or performances such as a recent Tech Talk and Miami City Ballet showing.

The Promenade also includes a novel functional artwork called “The Water Table” – it collects and redirects rainwater while also serving as a public ping-pong table. Further south is The Fern Room, designed to be a space for citizen scientists to learn about the native plant and tree species that populate The Underline, and The Oolite Room, which features four butterfly gardens and the striking mural and the oolite limestone boulders that serve as benches.

Every part of The Underline is accessible, free and open to the public. Park goers have access to Wi-Fi, water-fill stations and solar lighting.

“It was clear the project would have a major impact on defining Miami as a city,” Karson said. “The whole size and scale of the project is exciting. We’ve accomplished so much.”

And much more is to come.

Phase 2 is underway. Stretching from Coral Way through the Vizcaya Metrorail Station to SW 19th Avenue, this expanse features a large gathering space that includes four acres of playgrounds for older and younger children; concession stands; farmers’ markets; a labyrinth and more. Some 100,000 native trees and plants will populate this segment of the park. The final stretch, Phase 3, will extend to Dadeland Station South. What’s most exciting to Daly is watching the growing enthusiasm for a plan that a decade ago was received with skepticism. Now, as the urban trail takes vivid shape, Miamians are excited about what is next. That excitement was on display at a recent series of public meetings about Phase 3.

“The meetings were joyous,” she said. “People were talking about kayak drops, pickleball courts, skate parks. In my mind, if you can bring joy to planning and vision, you will bring joy to the experience.”

Daly, who earned an English degree at Vanderbilt University, had no specific preparation for this multi-faceted venture that has consumed the last 10 years of her life as a volunteer. Yet in some respects, she grew up preparing to lead a transformational project in the center of Miami. As a child, she helped her mother, Vann Thomson, collect signatures on a petition that led to the preservation, renovation and reopening of the Biltmore Hotel. Daly’s mother, who passed away last summer, was active in many causes. Daly’s father, Parker Thomson, was a local attorney who founded the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Center; worked alongside his wife to save the Biltmore Hotel from demolition; and spearheaded changes at the state level to support persons with disabilities. He also served as Ransom Everglades Chair of the Board during the schools’ merger.

After college, Daly worked in advertising, putting in long hours and eventually starting her own company with only female employees. But it wasn’t until she began work on The Underline that she truly found her calling. The Underline has been as much of a family affair as an alumni venture. Her sister, a naturalist, painted native plants on the aforementioned piano – which was donated by Daly’s mother-in-law; it is called “In Tune with Nature.” Her daughter, Alex Daly ’06, not only assists with national communications and strategy, but also introduced her mother to the New York City designer who created the name, logo and brand. The designer, Hamish Smyth, is now Alex Daly’s husband.

Meg Daly was selected last year to receive the Ransom Everglades Founders’ Alumni Award for Distinguished Service, and she provided the keynote speech at the 2022 Commencement. There she shared the story of her battle with an eating disorder, and offered encouragement and reassurance to the graduating seniors in front of her. She urged them not to be defined by who they were in high school. “Each of you has your own journey,” she said. “Take the time to know who you are and what is important to you.”

On her life journey, Daly has discovered what matters to her. One of her great joys has been appreciating the commitment of so many Ransom Everglades community members who have volunteered their time to make their city a better place to live.

“It’s very rewarding,” she said. “There really is that demonstration of generosity of spirit. They are deep thinkers, they are smart, and they prioritize giving back.”