Miami-Dade County officials have broken ground on the Connect Spot, a new recreational area designed to transform an underutilized space beneath the Metromover into a vibrant gathering place for residents and visitors.
Located between the College Bayside and First Street Metromover stations, the Connect Spot will feature Florida-native landscaping, walking paths, and lighting to encourage outdoor activity and social interaction in the heart of Downtown Miami. The flexible space will also host community events, fitness classes, and live entertainment.
District 5 Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who has led efforts to activate unused spaces under the Metromover, joined Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, the Department of Transportation and Public Works, the Department of Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces, and the Miami Downtown Development Authority to celebrate the groundbreaking.
“My vision with the Connect Spot was to create a vibrant and welcoming space where residents can interact with one another, enjoy nature, and strengthen their sense of community,” Higgins said in a press release. “We are reclaiming public spaces that were once overlooked and transforming them into places our residents can be proud of and call their own.”
Mayor Levine Cava said the project is part of a broader effort to build a more connected, people-centered Miami-Dade.
“This project represents our shared vision for a more connected, more vibrant Miami-Dade—one where every corner has space for neighbors to come together and live in community,” said Mayor Cava in a press statement. “Transforming withered spaces into welcoming green spaces improves people’s quality of life, gives families a place to gather, and residents a place to breathe.”
The Connect Spot follows Higgins’ earlier initiative, the Dog Spot, which opened last year under the First Street Metromover Station to provide a safe area for pet owners. The next phase, called the Play Spot, will focus on creating a recreational area for children and families.
Together, these projects reflect Higgins’ ongoing efforts to make Downtown Miami more pedestrian-friendly while promoting sustainability and community connection.
This is a Hy-Lo News Staff Report.
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