About the Get Moving Miami Gardens Project
Get Moving Miami Gardens is a collaborative project focused on creating and activating a walking and biking route from City Hall along NW 187th Street. By hosting activities and installing features like painted crosswalks, pop-up parks, and signage, we’re redefining public space to improve safety, access, mobility, and physical activity in Miami Gardens.
Bringing Complete Streets to Miami Gardens
Live Healthy Miami Gardens and UHP are exploring how a Complete Streets Policy could help the Miami Gardens take a comprehensive and active approach to creating safer, more enjoyable streets for biking and walking across the city.
Complete Streets are streets built for all users: walkers, bikers, transit users, people of different abilities, as well as drivers, to make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, jobs, and schools, bicycle to work, and move actively with assistive devices. They are designed and operated to prioritize safety, comfort, and access to destinations for all people who use the street, especially people whose needs have not been met through the traditional car-centered transportation approach.
There is no one specific design for Complete Streets, but they may include: wide, shaded sidewalks; protected bike lanes; dedicated bus lanes; comfortable and accessible public transportation stops; frequent and safe crossing opportunities; accessible pedestrian signals; and more.
Some examples of ways that bike lanes and crosswalks are incorporated into Complete Street designs are below.
Be Aware of Where You Park: Now more than ever, people are having to walk or bicycle as a necessity to access food, employment, and many other basic needs. As Miami Gardens residents, we can help create a space that is safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. This video helps to explain why parking a vehicle that blocks the sidewalk can create a situation where people may need to enter the street or cross in a vehicle’s blind spot to pass.
Creating Safe Routes to School:
You may not be walking and biking to school right now, but getting outside is still really important. Check out the Hibiscus Elementary student’s artwork and tell us what you think!
Our Partnerships With Live Healthy Miami Gardens
Urban Health Partnerships has partnered with Live Healthy Miami Gardens (LHMG) since 2016 in support of a healthier and more equitable Miami Gardens community. Live Healthy Miami Gardens aims to foster and maintain a community culture of health and well-being for all residents of the city through access, information, activities and services. LHMG works to develop and implement community-level strategies to address 5 focus areas:
• Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs
• Healthy Eating and Improved Nutrition
• Mental Health
• Physical Activity
• Primary Health Care
UHP has worked closely with the LHMG Physical Activity and Nutrition (PAN) Subcouncil to lead in the identification of policy, systems, and built and social environmental changes that can help increase physical activity and improve the health of Miami Gardens residents. UHP has partnered with LHMG on various projects. Visit the tabs on the left of this page for more information.
Live Healthy Miami Gardens is an initiative aimed at making this vibrant neighborhood a healthier place to live. The initiative, which launched in 2014, focuses on bringing the community together, following a strategic plan of action, increasing coordination, and making change that improves the health of Miami Gardens residents. The City of Miami Gardens is the primary coordinator of the project. Health Foundation of South Florida, a nonprofit grantmaking organization, is providing the project up to $3.75 million in support over the first six years of the initiative. For more information on Live Healthy Miami Gardens, visit: http://livehealthymiamigardens.com/.
About the Funder
Live Healthy Miami Gardens is a multi-year project aimed at making the City of Miami Gardens a healthier place to live, work and play. The project focuses on bringing the community together, developing a plan of action, increasing coordination, and making change that improves the health of Miami Gardens residents. The City of Miami Gardens is the primary coordinator of the project. The project is funded by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Approached to Community Health (REACH).
Stay Connected
Do you have any questions or comments? Please feel free to reach out to Teara, Community Resident/Liaison at teara@urbanhp.org, or 305-680-1007. If you need assistance in Spanish, please contact Arely at arely@urbanhp.org. Si necesita ayuda en español, comuníquese con Arely a arely@urbanhp.org.
Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee
The Miami Gardens Bike & Pedestrian Advisory Committee is part of the Live Healthy Miami Gardens Physical Activity & Nutrition (PAN) Council. The committee is comprosed of residents of the City of Miami Gardens, interested in advancing plans and programs that improve biking and walking conditions in the City. Join us to provide your input and ideas for healthier streets and public spaces!
Resolution Passed!
On Wednesday, October 26th, the City of Miami Gardens Council passed a resolution authorizing the City’s Complete Streets Initiative, which will include development of a Complete Streets Manual. The resolution was co-sponsored by Councilman Robert Stephens.
A Complete Streets Manual would provide a set of design guidelines for future development and transportation projects within the City that aims to create streets for all users that are safer and more enjoyable for those who move around their community outside of single-occupant vehicles.
The approval of this resolution represents a big win for City residents in improving their biking, walking, and transit experiences.
Thank you to the Miami Gardens community, Councilman Stephens, the Live Healthy Miami Gardens Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Live Healthy Miami Gardens staff and partners, City of Miami Gardens staff, and our UHP Community Liaisons for Miami Gardens on their contributions and support towards this Complete Streets resolution.
2045 Miami-Dade Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan
http://miamidadetpo.org/library/plans/miami-dade-2045-bicycle-pedestrian-master-plan-2019-09.pdf
Miami Gardens Bicycle & Pedestrian Mobility Plan
Live Healthy Miami Gardens
https://livehealthymiamigardens.com
Safe Routes to School Partnerships
https://saferoutespartnership.org
Let’s Ride: Miami Gardens Express Learning Activity for Kids.
iWalk Safe
iBike Safe
Smart Growth America: National Complete Streets Coalition
https://smartgrowthamerica.org/program/national-complete-streets-coalition/
The goal of the Wayfinding Plan project was to create an active transportation wayfinding plan that builds off the existing signage throughout the City and creates a more explicit connection to community assets, such as parks, health centers, healthy restaurants, healthy stores, and schools. Wayfinding is a component of the Live Healthy Miami Gardens Community Action Plan and aligns with sub-strategies in the mental health, physical activity, nutrition, and primary care focus areas. The plan lays out the most important destinations to provide information on active transportation options for residents. An extensive network of parks, walking paths, bike lanes, trails, and bus and trolley service already canvas the City, this action plan improves those connections and could be installed through existing City of Miami Gardens funding or other grant opportunities.
(Map of signage locations)
One of the essential components of providing wayfinding throughout a City is to provide information to residents and visitors so that they can orient themselves and navigate from place to place. The focus of this plan is to improve physical activity by providing information to the community about opportunities to walk, bicycle and ride transit to specific community assets in the City of Miami Gardens. The plan would highlight destinations to parks, health centers, and schools, but also will look at areas that the community could access for their daily needs such as commercial districts, healthy restaurants, healthy stores, and other points of interest. This plan is aimed at building off the signage that exists throughout the City of Miami Gardens near parks and at trolley stops.
About the Funder
Live Healthy Miami Gardens is a multi-year project aimed at making the City of Miami Gardens a healthier place to live, work and play. The project focuses on bringing the community together, developing a plan of action, increasing coordination, and making change that improves the health of Miami Gardens residents. The City of Miami Gardens is the primary coordinator of the project. The project is funded by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Racial and Ethnic Approached to Community Health (REACH).
In 2018, UHP worked with the City of Miami Gardens to create a Master Mobility Plan that combined the siloed efforts of the different City departments into one comprehensive pedestrian and bicyclist vision for the community. The aim of the Master Mobility plan was to create a list of pedestrian and bicycle projects that would increase active transportation options throughout the City. The process produced a list of prioritized mobility projects and static mapping for the City to implement.
About the Funder
Health Foundation of South Florida
The mission of Health Foundation of South Florida is to invest in and be a catalyst for collaborations, policy and systems change that improves the health of South Florida communities, with a focus on vulnerable, low to moderate income populations. Established in 1993, the nonprofit foundation has awarded over $125 million to nonprofits providing programs and services in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. For more information, visit hfsf.org and follow @HealthSFL.
The goal of this project when conducted in 2017, was for UHP to develop a list of physical activity strategies to create a safe environment that promotes walking and bicycling and increases Miami Gardens residents’ incidental physical activity levels.
We utilized the reiterative step-by-step process to leverage community resources and address barriers in achieving the set goal. The 8-step process generated a list of strategies around policy, system, and environmental changes that would increase physical activity (PA) of Miami Gardens residents through bicycle and pedestrian improvements.
[pdf-embedder url=”https://05477d.a2cdn1.secureserver.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/LetsRide_MiamiGardens.pdf”]
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is an initiative that promotes walking and bicycling to school through a range of activities, such as infrastructure improvements, campaigns, tools, safety education, and encouragement incentives. In 2018, UHP worked with seven schools in Miami Gardens to develop a city-wide SRTS plan that identified a range of strategies that could be implemented locally for each of the 6Es:
• Equity
• Engineering
• Encouragement
• Engagement
• Education
• Evaluation
Urban Health Partnerships strives to promote equity for disenfranchised and vulnerable communities throughout South Florida. In support of the recent removal of “Enforcement” as one of the “6 E’s” from the Safe Routes to School Framework by the National Safe Routes Partnership (Source: https://www.
During the 2019/2020 school year, we have been working with four schools, Hibiscus Elementary, Rainbow Park Elementary, Carol City Middle, and North County K-8, to implement a school-specific SRTS implementation program. Each program is individualized using the range of strategies identified in the SRTS Plan. Activities include:
• Parent Education
• Walk and Bike to School Day Events
• Open House Activities
• Infrastructure Recommendations
• Walking Audits
• Progressive Ticketing
• Safety Campaign
• Tactical Urbanism Elements
• Kid Activities
Through this program, we aim to create safer and healthier opportunities for families to walk and bike not only to school, but throughout the community.
UHP has implemented our Community Liaison (CL) Framework in communities throughout South Florida. In support of our Live Healthy Miami Gardens project, 3 CLs who are residents of Miami Gardens have been hired to serve as bike/walk community coordinators. The CLs will help advance the work and sustain the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program over the long term. The CLs will receive training and support to become champions for health and active transportation and work side-by-side with the UHP team in the implementation of the SRTS strategies.
Let’s Ride Learning Activity: This learning activity introduces kids to riding the Miami Gardens Express. The Miami Gardens Express is a free bus service that connects schools, parks, libraries, and many other places of interest around the city. The Let’s Ride resource walks kids through how to use a transit map, how to plan their ride, and how to follow the rules of riding safely. View below or download here.
Safe Routes for All Public Service Announcement: Now more than ever, people are having to walk or bicycle as a necessity to access food, employment, and many other basic needs. As Miami Gardens residents, we can help create a space that is safe for pedestrians and bicyclists. This video helps to explain why parking a vehicle that blocks the sidewalk can create a situation where people may need to enter the street or cross in a vehicle’s blind spot to pass.
About the Funder
Health Foundation of South Florida
The mission of Health Foundation of South Florida is to invest in and be a catalyst for collaborations, policy and systems change that improves the health of South Florida communities, with a focus on vulnerable, low to moderate income populations. Established in 1993, the nonprofit foundation has awarded over $125 million to nonprofits providing programs and services in Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties. For more information, visit hfsf.org and follow @HealthSFL.
The #GetMovingMG Scavenger Hunt
The Get Moving Miami Gardens scavenger hunt was created to promote an active lifestyle while encouraging community members to think about incorporating walking and biking into their everyday activities, such as getting to their everyday destinations. We hope that by getting around town using the Get Moving path and completing these fun photo challenges and activities will help you view the city through a different lens. We hope that you can have a fun and unique experience with the hunt! Let us know how you like it with your pictures and posts!
How to Participate in the Scavenger Hunt
Sunny is your guide to solving the clues in this scavenger hunt! Today Sunny is feeling adventurous and will be making 6 stops along the Get Moving route.
Find Sunny along the Get Moving Path and join in on the fun! (View route below)
How to Participate:
1) Using the route map, find Sunny along the path!
2) Take a selfie of yourself at one or all of the numbered destinations and look for feathers to find the challenge questions
3) Post your Sunny selfie to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the hashtag #getmovingMG and include the answer to the challenge question in the caption
4) There are 6 challenges total along the route. We encourage you to complete each challenge and let us know what you think of the path!
Increasing Access, Mobility, and Safety
This project aimed to increase opportunities for physical activity in Miami Gardens by improving the walking and biking experience between key destinations. UHP collaborated with multiple partner groups and community members to create an activity-friendly route from City Hall along NW 187th Street.
The project resulted in temporary physical improvements to streets, sidewalks, parks, and transit stops (features like pop-up parks, signage, painted crosswalks, art, etc.) that allowed community members to engage with potential improvements, provide feedback, and identify effective permanent changes to be made in the future. The Get Moving project will help accelerate long-term changes to mobility in Miami Gardens, increasing safety, access, and physical activity.
This project highlighted that access to everyday destinations can be easily traveled to via active transportation (walking and biking), which can, in turn, improve physical and mental health. The destinations will be focused in the area of zip code 33056, which was identified as an area of higher need because of the increased number of chronic diseases and the higher reliance on public transportation. The everyday destinations connected through this project included:
• City Hall
• Carol City High
• Carol City Middle
• Barbara Hawkins Elementary
• Brentwood Park
• Post Office
• Multiple Apartment Buildings and Residential Neighborhoods
• West Side Blueway Multi-Use Trail
• The City of Miami Gardens Trolley
The Get Moving project is co-designed by Community Liaisons—Miami Gardens residents hired to the project team to help enact the changes they wish to see in their communities. In addition to participating in the co-design process, Community Liaisons collect and analyze input from the broader community, connect with partners, and lead outreach.
Increasing Access, Mobility, and Safety
This project aims to increase opportunities for physical activity in Miami Gardens by improving the walking and biking experience between key destinations. We’re collaborating with multiple partner groups and community members to create an activity-friendly route from City Hall along NW 187th Street.
The project will result in temporary physical improvements to streets, sidewalks, parks, and transit stops (features like pop-up parks, signage, painted crosswalks, art, etc.) that will allow community members to engage with potential improvements, provide feedback, and identify effective permanent changes to be made in the future. The Get Moving project will help accelerate long-term changes to mobility in Miami Gardens, increasing safety, access, and physical activity.
This project will highlight to the community that access to everyday destinations can be easily traveled to by active transportation (walking and biking), which can, in turn, improve their physical and mental health. The destinations will be focused in the area of zip code 33056, which was identified as an area of higher need because of the increased number of chronic diseases and the higher reliance on public transportation. The everyday destination to be connected through this project include:
• City Hall
• Carol City High
• Carol City Middle
• Barbara Hawkins Elementary
• Brentwood Park
• Post Office
• Multiple Apartment Buildings and Residential Neighborhoods
• West Side Blueway Multi-Use Trail
• The City of Miami Gardens Trolley
The Get Moving project is co-designed by Community Liaisons—Miami Gardens residents hired to the project team to help enact the changes they wish to see in their communities. In addition to participating in the co-design process, Community Liaisons collect and analyze input from the broader community, connect with partners, and lead outreach.
The Get Moving Miami Gardens Scavenger Hunt
The Get Moving Miami Gardens scavenger hunt was created to promote an active lifestyle while encouraging community members to think about incorporating walking and biking into their everyday activities, such as getting to their everyday destinations. We hope that by getting around town using the Get Moving path and completing these fun photo challenges and activities will help you view the city through a different lens. We hope that you can have a fun and unique experience with the hunt! Let us know how you like it with your pictures and posts!
Find Sunny by utilizing the Get Moving path to visit some of our favorite everyday destinations in Miami Gardens. Look out for the bird feather along the pathway for hints on getting to the next stop. At each stop, you will be prompted to complete the challenges on social media using the #getmovingmg hashtag.
Sunny is your guide to solving the clues in this scavenger hunt! Today Sunny is feeling adventurous and will be making 6 stops along the Get Moving route. Find Sunny along the Get Moving Path and join in on the fun! (View route below)
How to Participate:
1) Using the route map, find Sunny along the path!
2) Take a selfie of yourself at one or all of the numbered destinations and look for feathers to find the challenge questions
3) Post your Sunny selfie to Instagram, Facebook, or Twitter with the hashtag #getmovingMG and include the answer to the challenge question in the caption
4) There are 6 challenges total along the route. We encourage you to complete each challenge and let us know what you think of the path!
Thank You to Our Community Liaisons
Meet Rosalind Ikem / rosalind@urbanhp.org
Rosalind Ikem joined UHP in March of 2022. During the pandemic, she was fortunate enough to assist young adults and youth who needed assistance through fundraising and resources available within various communities. Her main goal is to continue helping people get assistance through resources available within the community and through social media. She is currently attending Miami Dade Medical College with the hope of becoming a lab science tech.
Meet Tara Kitt / tara@urbanhp.org
Tara N. Kitt joined UHP as a Community Liaison in September 2021. Tara Kitt retired from MDCR/PTSB as a Pretrial Service Officer II in July 2020. Tara earned her Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Florida Memorial College in 1984. She is an active member of Eta Phi Beta Sorority. She has resided in the Miami Gardens area since 1980. Tara is concerned about the wellbeing of the Senior citizens in her community, advocating for safer environments to live and work in.
Meet Cindy Marcelin / cindy@urbanhp.org
Cindy joined UHP as a Community Liaison in May of 2021. Marcelin is married with two kids and works as a full-time Social Studies teacher currently teaching United States Government and Politics and United States History (14 years) and Spinning Instructor (3 years). She has been a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority since 2009. Cindy has discovered her love for teaching and fitness in cycling. As an educator, she has always found joy in helping students succeed and transform into great individuals but personally struggled with her own self-esteem and obesity. In 2012 she started spinning and hasn’t stopped ever since, she loves it so much that in February of 2016 she officially became a certified spin instructor! Her passion in class is so contagious that you too will love it just as much as her!
Meet Ebony Harris / ebony@urbanhp.org
Ebony Harris has spent her adult life nurturing children through self-created programs that emphasize educational growth, daily living skills, and positive self-affirmations. As a City of Miami Gardens resident, her main objective as a Community Liaison is to continue to advocate for safe and conducive environments for Miami-Dade County students. Ebony joined UHP as a Community Liaison in October of 2019.
Meet Michelle Booth
Michelle Booth joined UHP as a Miami Gardens Community Liaison in October of 2019. She is currently working on her master’s degree in School Counseling at St Thomas University. Michelle has an undergraduate degree in Criminal Justice with Homeland Security. Michelle was born and raised in the city of Carol City located in Miami Gardens. She hopes to maximize collaboration among all local families and schools to improve the quality of life of the families in the area. Prior to joining UHP, Michelle has worked at an Elementary School and Middle school in the hopes to bring a change with her outgoing spirit and her love for the community and the kids. She is passionate in helping and empowering the community through advocacy and developing strategies that improve health and social outcomes.
Meet Maritza Vereen
Maritza Vereen has spent her time on this project focused on the need to ensure that Miami Gardens children know how to navigate public spaces in a safe and appropriate way. As a mother, she sees the importance of ensuring that Miami Gardens and other cities have a built environment conducive to the needs of children of all ages and parents as they get to and from school.
Meet Maritza Vereen
Maritza Vereen has spent her time on this project focused on the need to ensure that Miami Gardens children know how to navigate public spaces in a safe and appropriate way. As a mother, she sees the importance of ensuring that Miami Gardens and other cities have a built environment conducive to the needs of children of all ages and parents as they get to and from school.
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