HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-24-0133City of Miami
Resolution R-24-0133
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 15764 Final Action Date: 4/11/2024
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION PROPOSING THE
NAMING OF THE UNDERDECK PROJECT AS THE "REVEREND EDWARD T.
GRAHAM GREENWAY" IN HONOR OF HIS EXTRAORDINARY LEGACY AND
ENDURING IMPACT ON THE CITY OF MIAMI; DIRECTING THE CITY
MANAGER TO INITIATE NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION ("FDOT") TO ENTER INTO AN AMENDMENT TO THE
THIRD MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING, EXECUTED ON OCTOBER
20, 2023, TO PROVIDE FOR THE NAMING; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE ANY AND ALL NECESSARY
DOCUMENTS, ALL IN FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY, FOR
SAID PURPOSE; PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
SPONSOR(S): Commissioner Manolo Reyes, Commissioner Christine King
WHEREAS, the Interstate 395 ("1-395") Underdeck Project, also known as the Signature
Bridge ("Project"), is a monumental 33-acre public open space designed to serve as a multi-
purpose greenway, connecting the Historic Overtown neighborhood to Biscayne Bay, enhancing
community connectivity and providing a multitude of outdoor amenities; and
WHEREAS, the Project represents a significant partnership between the Florida
Department of Transportation ("FDOT") and the City of Miami ("City"), embodying the design
themes of activity, connection, authenticity, and greenery, and is set to include an amphitheater,
event lawn, community plaza, children's play area, dog play area, multi -use court, and water
feature, thereby fostering a diverse range of public events and cultural activities; and
WHEREAS, the Underdeck Project is envisioned to be a vibrant and inclusive space,
promoting community engagement, cultural expression, and environmental sustainability, with
the anticipated completion by late 2027 and a projected cost of $840 million, aiming to enhance
safety, mobility, and sustainability for residents and visitors alike; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Edward T. Graham was a pillar of strength and a beacon of hope
for the Miami community, arriving in 1943 and quickly becoming a staunch advocate for civil
rights and social justice, leading the first "wade -in" in the United States to protest against
segregated beaches; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Graham, as a licensed minister at Mt. Zion Baptist Church and
the first Executive Director of the Urban League of Miami, tirelessly worked towards the
upliftment of the Black community, playing key roles in desegregating Miami's lunch counters,
golf courses, buses, the police department, beaches, and Miami Beach hotels, and facilitating
the relocation of Florida Memorial College to Miami; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Graham's commitment to public service and governance led him
to become the first Black male commissioner of the City of Miami in 1970, and subsequently, in
1972, he further distinguished himself as the second Black male commissioner to serve on the
City of Miami Page 1 of 2 File ID: 15764 (Revision:) Printed On: 7/25/2025
File ID: 15764 Enactment Number: R-24-0133
Miami -Dade County Commission, marking significant milestones in the history of Miami -Dade
County's political landscape and representing crucial steps toward inclusive and representative
governance; and
WHEREAS, Reverend Graham, a beacon of hope and change for the Miami community,
personally endured the loss of his home due to the construction of 1-395, a development that
decimated the Overtown neighborhood and adversely impacted many of its residents; and
WHEREAS, the naming of the Project as the "Reverend Edward T. Graham Greenway"
serves not only as a tribute to his indomitable spirit and lifelong commitment to social justice, but
also as a symbolic act of contrition and restitution in recognition of the sacrifices made by the
community in the face of urban development;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are
adopted by reference thereto and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The City Commission hereby proposes the naming of the Underdeck Project
as the "Reverend Edward T. Graham Greenway" in honor of his extraordinary legacy and
enduring impact in our City.
Section 3. The City Manager is hereby directed to initiate negotiations with the FDOT to
enter into an amendment to the Third Memorandum of Understanding, executed on October 20,
2023, to provide for the naming as set forth in Section 2 of this Resolution.
Section 4. The City Manager is further authorized' to negotiate and execute any and all
necessary documents, in forms acceptable to the City Attorney, for said purpose.
Section 5. This Resolution shall be effective immediately upon adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
sndez, City Httor
ey 4/2/2024
1 The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all legal requirements that may be
imposed, including, but not limited to, those prescribed by applicable City Charter and City Code
provisions.
City of Miami Page 2 of 2 File ID: 15764 (Revision:) Printed on: 7/25/2025