Miami residents found a new way to reach their 10,000-step quota during the first official hike along the north end of the Ludlam Trail, an urban development project centered on providing green space for the public. On Saturday, Mar. 26, walking enthusiasts and neighbors convened at A.D. Barnes Park for the Ludlam Hikes event hosted by Friends of the Ludlam Trail along with America Walks and the Miami Foundation.
Neighbors walked a four-mile span of the community’s newest walkable addition and installed signage designating alternative-transit options to nearby schools, parks and other destinations. Attendees heard from guest speaker Kate Kraft, the national coalition director of America Walks.
The Ludlam Hikes event was part of Ludlam Days, a series of events and initiatives presented by The Friends of Ludlam Trail and Florida East Coast Industries with a goal to familiarize the community with the Ludlam project. Ludlam Hikes also was sponsored by the Miami Foundation’s Public Space Challenge, and installation of the trail signage was in partnership with Walk [Your City], an organization dedicated to boosting community awareness with the use of traditional informational street signs.
“As Greater Miami continues to grow, so does residents’ demand for more parks and open spaces,” said Stuart Kennedy, director of program strategy and innovation at The Miami Foundation.
“Smaller scale, light-lift efforts such as this wayfinding signage project can drive broader momentum for big, transformative public spaces like the Ludlam Trail,” he added.
“Events like Ludlam Hikes allow us to rediscover the beauty of the Ludlam Trail and understand the direct connectivity it will provide to schools, parks, transit hubs and multiple neighborhoods and shopping districts,” said Eric Katz, event organizer for Friends of the Ludlam Trail. “All of us at the Friends of the Ludlam Trail are truly passionate about this inspired project, which will become an enormous asset for the community as a safe and dedicated running, biking and walking trail.”
For more information on the Ludlam Project, visit www.ludlamtrail.org, and to learn more about Ludlam Days events, follow the Ludlam Trail Facebook page.
