MIAMI BEACH, Fla., Nov 4 (AP) – South Florida has welcomed a new wave of cars, but they are not meant for the roads. Instead, 22 life-sized concrete cars have been placed under the sea near Miami Beach to form part of a new underwater sculpture park. The project brings together art, science and nature to help restore coral reefs.
Art meets ocean conservation
The underwater installation, called Concrete Coral, is the work of the nonprofit group REEFLINE. It was created to blend creativity with marine protection and community learning. Over several days last month, the team lowered the sculptures into the ocean just a few hundred feet from South Beach.
The first phase will soon be seeded with 2,200 native corals grown in a nearby laboratory. The project has been funded in part by a five million dollar bond from the City of Miami Beach. REEFLINE plans to expand the project in 11 phases along the seven-mile coastline and hopes to raise another forty million dollars to continue the work.
Founder Ximena Caminos said the project is a new kind of partnership between art and science. She said it shows how people can take creative action to rebuild marine ecosystems.
Building a living reef
The design for the underwater park came from architect Shohei Shigematsu, while the car sculptures were created by artist Leandro Erlich. Colin Foord, who runs REEFLINE’s coral lab, said planting will begin soon. The concrete cars will become a living reef and a home for fish, crabs and soft corals.
He said the idea of a traffic jam beneath the sea has a symbolic meaning. It represents how nature can reclaim space that humans once changed. The selected coral species are strong because they were grown from survivors of Florida’s 2023 bleaching event.
Expanding the underwater gallery
The next stages of the project will feature new works. Heart of Okeanos by artist Petroc Sesti will resemble the heart of a blue whale. Another sculpture, The Miami Reef Star by Carlos Betancourt and Alberto Latorre, will form a star pattern made of starfish shapes.
These installations are expected to attract more marine life and accelerate the development of coral reefs. Foord said this approach will increase biodiversity and create a model for hybrid reef building in Florida.
Boosting eco-tourism and local jobs
Miami Beach Mayor Steven Meiner praised the project during a beachside ceremony. He said REEFLINE is turning Miami Beach into a global example of environmental innovation. He added that cooperation between public agencies and private donors will help protect marine habitats.
The reef is located about twenty feet below the surface and around eight hundred feet from shore. The easy access will allow visitors to snorkel, dive, kayak and paddleboard around the sculptures. Local businesses expect an increase in eco-tourism and new green jobs as a result.
Education and awareness
REEFLINE also runs community programs where volunteers can plant corals with scientists. A floating marine learning center will host monthly workshops to teach visitors about coral care and ocean health. These activities will involve local residents, students and tourists.
Caminos said the installation alone cannot solve large problems such as climate change or rising sea levels. However, she believes it can start important discussions about protecting the oceans. She said that creative and cooperative work can help address human-made problems with human-made solutions.
This news was originally published by The Associated Press.