Environmental Projects

The Environment and Sustainability Department develops and implements projects that improve the health of our natural resources and reduce our community’s impact on the environment. These are a few of the projects on which we’re currently working:

1. Beachwalk

The beachwalk system is an at-grade pedestrian and cyclist pathway that runs along the beachfront and connects Miami Beach from Government Cut to our northern border and beyond! In addition to providing for recreation, it gives our residents and visitors an opportunity to get out of their cars and use alternative modes of transportation. The following missing segments are in planning, design or construction, as follows:

• Beachwalk II (3 Street to 5 Street): Complete.
• Mid-Beach Recreational Corridor, Phase III (boardwalk segments from 24 Street to 45 Street): Complete.
• Mid-Beach Recreational Corridor, Phase II (46 Street to 53 Street): Complete.
• Mid-Beach Recreational Corridor, Phase I (53 Street to 64 Street): Complete.
• North Shore Open Space Park (79 Street to 87 Street): Construction is anticipated to begin Summer 2021 and by completed by Summer 2022.

2. Baywalk

The Baywalk is a system of public pedestrian pathways along the Biscayne Bay shoreline designed to promote alternative transportation. Once completed, it will provide a continuous path running north/south on the rear of the properties along West Avenue from 5th Street to Lincoln Road, linking residential and commercial areas, public street-end parks, and other existing pedestrian and bicycle facilities such as the beachwalk. The Baywalk system is part of the larger Atlantic Greenway Network as well as a component of the Blueways Master Plan and the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan. For more information on the Baywalk and project status, please click here.

3. Living Shorelines

Living shorelines use a combination of bank stabilization and habitat restoration techniques to reinforce the shoreline, minimize coastal erosion, and maintain coastal processes while protecting, restoring, enhancing, and creating natural habitat for aquatic plants and wildlife. In addition to shoreline stabilization and erosion control, living shorelines provide added benefits, such as reduction of wave energy, absorption of storm surge, improved water quality via filtration, protection of riparian and intertidal resources, and creation of aquatic and terrestrial habitat.

The City has several seawall projects in the planning, design and construction phases that are incorporating living shorelines, as follows:

• Maurice Gibb Park Re-design (18 Street and Purdy Avenue) – In permitting.
• Indian Creek Drive Flood Mitigation Project (25 Street to 41 Street) – In permitting.
• Muss Park Seawall (44 Street and Chase Avenue) – Construction completed in November 2017.
• Brittany Bay Park Seawall (65 Street and Indian Creek Drive) – Phase I (seawall) complete. Phase II (living shoreline)- Construction anticipated to begin 2021.

4. Dune Restoration

Healthy dunes provide protection from storms, act as habitat for coastal species, and slow down beach erosion. The city ensures the health and stability of our dune system by regularly removing non-native vegetation and replanting with native species using volunteers from local non-profits (such as the Miami Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation) and landscaping contractors. In 2014, the city completed a large scale restoration of the dunes in South Beach (Government Cut to 3 Street and 14 Street to 23 Street), Middle Beach (23 Street to 47 Street), and North Beach (64 Street to 79 Street). In 2018, this work continued in Lummus Park (5 Street to 14 Terrace) and will strategically replant to reduce artificial lighting visible from the beach. As of 2020, the Surfrider Foundation has assisted in 5 other dune restoration efforts ranging from 6th Street to 35th Street. For more information on our dunes, please visit us here!

5. G0B #33 Urban Forestry Master Plan

In November 2018, Miami Beach residents voted to approve the $439 million General Obligation Bond Program, passing all 3 related ballot questions with an outstanding support rate of approximately 70%. One of the projects supported by residents, is the GO #33: Urban Forestry Master Plan. This project aims at increasing the City's shade tree canopy coverage by reforesting and planting up to 5,000 new shade trees, as part of the City's Urban Forestry Master Plan. Some of the areas included in this reforestation plan are Pocket Park, Muss Park, 40th Street, Stillwater, Biscayne Point, South Beach, Normandy Isles, and Normandy Shores. For more information on the Urban Forestry Master Plan, please click here. For more information on the City's G.O. Bond Program, please click here.