LTC 416-2023 $1 Million Grant for Beachwalk ReforestationM IA M I BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC 416-2023 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO:
FROM:
DATE:
Honorable Mayor Dan Gel~er and Me bers of the City Commission
Alina T. Hudak, City Mana e
September 18, 2023
SUBJECT: $1 Million Grant for Beachwalk Reforestation
The City of Miami Beach has been notified it will receive a $1 Million grant award from the
U.S. Department of Agriculture's Urban and Community Forestry Program, to reforest the
Beachwalk with hundreds of canopy shade trees. With this grant, the City has secured all
funding needed to complete a full Beachwalk reforestation effort.
The funding will come from the U.S. Forest Service, which received $1.5 billion under the
Inflation Reduction Act to support tree-planting, urban forest management, and related
projects in economically and environmentally disadvantaged communities across the
country.
The grant will cover the cost of reforestation for program eligible Beachwalk sections
between 1°Street to 23' Street in South Beach, 29 Street to 41°Street in Middle Beach,
and 71° Street to 87 Street in North Beach. The project will start in 2024. The remaining
blocks of the Beachwalk reforestation effort will be funded under the 2018 G.O. Bond
Program.
The project will be led by the Environment and Sustainability Department and increase
the quality of life for residents and visitors that use the popular and newly renovated
Beachwalk amenity. The expanded tree canopy will be an important part of the City's
green infrastructure to reduce temperatures as it also mitigates flood risk along the 7-mile
paved pathway. The Urban Forestry Master Plan (UFMP) was adopted by the Mayor and
City Commission in October 2020. The main goal of the master plan is to grow from 17%
to 22% canopy cover by the year 2040. The UFMP sets forth guidelines and goals
regarding reforestation and establishes best management practices to adapt the tree
canopy to be resilient to urban threats such as disease, tree abuse, and lack of space as
well as climatic threats, including sea level rise, saltwater intrusion, and rising
temperatures. Heat mapping is an important factor guiding the general areas to install
trees. The Beachwalk is an important mobility corridor, and residents and visitors alike
will benefit from shade to reduce extreme heat impacts.
Among the Florida-native species used for the reforestation will be Gumbo Limbo, Live
Oak, Green Buttonwoods, Stoppers, and Sea Grapes.
Special thanks to the Finance Department's Grants Management Division and the
Environment and Sustainability Department's Urban Forestry Division.
JG/MM