On April 7, 2017 and email was sent by Sandy Shapiro, Executive Director of the Miami Beach Botanical Garden wherein she states that the upcoming seawall restoration project will require new landscaping, which will be an opportune time to implement a revised version of Raymond Jungles’ Phase 3 design plan. The vision would be to add gated entrances on the north side of the Garden, allowing access into the Garden during opening hours and extending the Garden's plant palate to the water’s edge. The concept is for visitors and residents to be able to walk from the Holocaust Memorial, access the Botanical Garden, continue along the stunning new living seawall walkway past the historic Carl Fischer Clubhouse, and end at the restored Bass Museum. New York City created the ‘Highline’ by transforming an elevated train track to a living park that ends at the new Whitney Museum. Miami Beach’s underutilized Collins Canal walkway would become a destination, an environmentally significant pedestrian corridor, connecting the cultural organizations that make Miami Beach an international destination.
On May 19, 2017 this item was discussed at the Neighborhood Community Affairs Committee. The item was referred to the Finance and Citywide Projects Committee in order to better understand the budget impact of extending the Miami Beach Botanical Garden to the Collins Canal.