The City of Miami Beach has been awarded a $1 million federal grant to plant hundreds of shade trees along the recently competed Beachwalk, a more than 7-mile oceanfront promenade that spans the entire length of the urban resort island from South Beach through North Beach.

“Shade trees will only enhance the experience for people who love to walk, jog or bike on our new Beachwalk,” explained Mayor Dan Gelber. “They are beautiful and in a world that is only getting hotter, make it easier for people of all ages to take in the beauty of our beaches and obtain the health benefits associated with outdoor exercise.”

The grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Urban and Community Forestry Program will cover the cost of reforestation for program-eligible areas of the Beachwalk between 1-23 streets in South Beach, 29-41 streets in Mid Beach and 71-87 streets in North Beach. The 2024 project will be led by the city’s Environment and Sustainability Department.

Other sections of the Beachwalk that are not deemed eligible for the grant money will receive the same native and Florida-friendly canopy trees through the 2018 voter-approved General Obligation Bond.

All of the shade trees that will be used in the project were selected for their hardiness in marine environments and their environmental benefits, including protection against sea level rise, saltwater intrusion and rising temperatures. The types of trees that will be planted include gumbo limbo, live oak, green buttonwoods, stoppers and sea grapes.

The Miami Beach City Commission adopted an Urban Forestry Master Plan in 2020 that seeks to expand the city’s overall tree canopy from 17% to 22% by 2040. Expanding Green Infrastructure is a key action in Resilient305, the shared resilient strategy among Miami Beach, Miami-Dade County, and the city of Miami.

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