Commissioner Regalado Successfully Champions Funding for Greenways

MIAMI-DADE – On April 5, the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution sponsored by Commissioner Raquel Regalado to allow park impact fees to be used for greenways as well as traditional parks.

Greenways are linear trails that connect other parks and public places throughout Miami-Dade County by way of canals, railroads, highways, easements and open spaces and provide opportunities for walking, bicycling and other activities. The change permits funding for greenways as connective infrastructure in unincorporated areas.

“Greenways offer an incredible service as both linear parks and as viable mobility options,” said Commissioner Regalado. “The Underline and Ludlam Trail are two prominent examples of how we are building more ways for people to live, work, and play in their neighborhoods without getting into a car. Now we can do even more.”

“I firmly believe we need to accelerate investment in connecting our communities through well designed greenways and trails,” said Frankie Ruiz, a running coach responsible for building Miami’s marathon culture as well as an advocate for the Ludlam Trail. “Impact fees can help move forward many of these projects to eventually create a world class network of corridors.”

Eli Stiers, Local Counsel for Rails-to-Trails Conservancy and a member of the Miami-Dade Trail Alliance, stated that this policy change is an important step towards the completion of the Miami LOOP, a developing 225-mile network of connected biking, walking and wheelchair accessible trails that will link Miami-Dade communities with safe places to recreate and commute. The Miami LOOP is part of RTC’s TrailNation™ flagship initiative, which is designed to establish model trail networks across the country.

“If we build and connect our trails to neighborhoods, businesses, schools, and cultural destinations, people will use them more to travel and recreate with loved ones,” said Stiers. “There’s already rapidly growing interest and use of the Miami LOOP among residents and visitors, which will have the ability to connect people to beaches, stadiums, national parks, museums and downtown. When this network is complete, it will make the region more accessible to tourists and our neighbors while boosting the local economy.”