Coral Way's Banyans Celebrating 90 Years

The iconic tree-lined boulevard in Miami has been a community centerpiece since the 1930s.

Apr. 6, 2026 at 5:53am

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Coral Way, the grand, tree-lined boulevard that connects downtown Miami to Coral Gables, is celebrating the 90th anniversary of its iconic Banyan tree canopy. Originally envisioned by Coral Gables founder George Merrick in the 1920s, Coral Way was transformed into a lush, multi-modal corridor in the 1930s with the help of the Works Progress Administration. Today, the street's Banyan trees continue to provide shade and beauty to the surrounding neighborhoods.

Why it matters

Coral Way's Banyan trees have become a beloved symbol of Miami's history and community identity. The street's landscaping and design have helped shape the character of surrounding neighborhoods like the Roads, Silver Bluff, and Coral Gables over the past nine decades. As one of the city's most scenic and historic thoroughfares, the anniversary of Coral Way's Banyan trees is an opportunity to celebrate Miami's unique urban heritage.

The details

In the 1920s, Coral Gables founder George Merrick envisioned Coral Way as a grand, 100-foot wide boulevard connecting downtown Miami to his planned suburb. After the street was widened and extended in the early 1920s, the Works Progress Administration constructed a landscaped median down the center of Coral Way in 1936-1937, planting over 1,200 Banyan trees that remain today. The lush, tree-lined street became a major selling point for real estate development in the surrounding neighborhoods during the 1930s housing boom.

  • Coral Way was first established as a road in the early 1920s.
  • The street was widened and extended between 1922-1925.
  • The Works Progress Administration constructed the Banyan tree-lined median in 1936-1937.
  • Coral Way's Banyan trees are celebrating their 90th anniversary in 2026.

The players

George Merrick

The founder of Coral Gables who envisioned Coral Way as a grand boulevard connecting his planned suburb to downtown Miami.

Works Progress Administration

The New Deal agency that constructed the landscaped median and planted the Banyan trees along Coral Way in the 1930s.

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What they’re saying

“Coral Way's Banyan trees have become an iconic part of Miami's landscape, providing shade and beauty to the surrounding neighborhoods for nearly a century.”

— Megan McLaughlin, Director of Preservation Projects at Plusurbia

What’s next

The City of Miami and local preservation groups plan to celebrate the 90th anniversary of Coral Way's Banyan trees with a community event and tree-planting initiative in 2026.

The takeaway

Coral Way's Banyan trees are a testament to Miami's rich history and the enduring power of community-driven urban planning. The street's landscaping has helped shape the character of surrounding neighborhoods for generations, and its 90th anniversary is an opportunity to celebrate the city's unique identity.