Florida Construction News staff writer
Leaders from Miami’s Overtown neighborhood say they will fight President Donald Trump’s decision to cut $60 million in federal funding for the Underdeck project, a public space initiative designed to reconnect a historically Black community divided by highway construction decades ago.
The project, also known as the Reverend Edward T. Graham Heritage Trail, includes bike paths, walking trails, a dog park and other community amenities beneath the towering arches of I-395. The mile-long linear park, expected to be completed in 2026, was aimed at bridging neighborhoods, honoring cultural history and providing public recreation in downtown Miami.
“The loss of $60 million in federal funding for the Underdeck project is a profound setback for the Overtown community and the City of Miami,” said Mario L. Goderre, chairman of the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency. “This project was designed to help heal a wound that has been open for decades.
“We must not lose sight of the vision for a reconnected Overtown, nor our responsibility to safeguard Miami’s history and legacy while building a stronger, more inclusive future.”
Overtown, once known as Colored Town, was a thriving hub for Black culture, dining and entertainment before the construction of Interstates 95 and 395 in the 1960s displaced many residents and divided the neighborhood.
The project is championed by the Underdeck Advisory Board, a community-driven, public-private partnership of civic and institutional leaders working alongside the city. The board has spent about four years designing the space to be inclusive, reflecting the needs and priorities of surrounding neighborhoods.
Construction of the Underdeck is tied to the I-395 redesign and will extend from the heart of Overtown to Biscayne Boulevard, bridging streets and creating public spaces that honor the area’s complex history while showcasing Miami’s future.
Community leaders say they will continue seeking alternative funding sources to move the project forward.
