The Trump administration has revoked a $60 million federal grant for the long-planned park beneath Miami’s new I-395 “Signature Bridge” in Overtown. The decision shocks city leaders who saw the project as a way to heal decades of highway-driven damage to the historic Black neighborhood.
What Was Cut and Where the Money Was Headed
The funding came from a federal discretionary program designed to reconnect neighborhoods severed by past highway projects. It was earmarked for the 33-acre linear park under I-395 — once called the Underdeck and recently renamed the Reverend Edward T. Graham Heritage Trail. Local reports say city officials learned this week that the grant is no longer available. WSVN first reported the notice on Aug. 9, 2025.
How the Project Was Funded and What It Promised
In 2024, the DOT’s reconnecting-communities program awarded the $60 million, the largest federal discretionary grant Miami had secured for the Underdeck. Plans envisioned a mile-long greenway linking Gibson Park in Overtown to the cultural district near Biscayne Bay, featuring walking and biking paths, plazas, play areas, and a signature pedestrian bridge. The Miami Herald documented those plans and the original award.
Local Money Already in Motion
Miami leaders had lined up local matching funds. Commissioners approved city and community-redevelopment allocations, which city documents described as the final steps to unlock the federal grant and advance design and construction. Earlier this summer, Miami Today reported on the approvals as the city prepared to formalize agreements with the Florida Department of Transportation.
Part of a National Trend of Rescinded Grants
The Overtown rescission follows a broader trend. Since sweeping federal legislation passed this summer, some discretionary programs and unobligated awards tied to the Inflation Reduction Act and other initiatives have been cut or restructured. Several cities have lost previously announced grants, including Austin’s I-35 cap project, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman.
Why Federal Officials Pulled the Money
Agencies cite recent legislative changes that rescinded unobligated funds and shifted program priorities. The Reconnecting Communities program and related awards have felt the impact of the revised federal budget and new laws. The DOT’s program page outlines the grant’s purpose and process, while Congress.gov details the legislation that removed unspent allocations.
Reaction from Overtown Leaders and Residents
Local officials and advocates called the decision discouraging but stressed it doesn’t doom the project. Commissioners have described the Underdeck as a reconciliatory public space to reconnect neighborhoods split by mid-century highway construction. Advocates say losing federal backing heightens the need for local commitments and private fundraising. Hoodline covered those hopes when the grant was first announced.
Next Steps for the Project
City leaders now must choose: replace the federal funds with local, state, or philanthropic dollars; scale the project into smaller phases; or pause until new funding emerges. The path forward depends partly on whether the funds were formally obligated and the language in the award notice. Legal experts and municipal leaders are studying how other cities handle similar cuts.
Why It Matters to Miami
The Underdeck represents more than green space — it’s a tangible attempt to reverse decades of harm inflicted on Overtown by past highway planning. Losing federal funding raises long-standing questions about who benefits from downtown development and whether long-time residents will see promised investments. WLRN has chronicled these tensions and the neighborhood’s transformation.
For now, the stretch of concrete and columns beneath the new Signature Bridge — between Gibson Park and the Pérez Art Museum — remains in limbo. City staff and commissioners say they’ll seek alternatives and update the public as they define next steps.
Leave a Reply