Miami Gardens Unveils Monumental Letters Funded by MIAMI REALTORS® Grant

Community leaders and residents gathered on May 5, 2025, at the Sunshine State Arch (NW 13th Avenue and 167th Street, Miami Gardens, Fla.) for a milestone event: the unveiling of “Miami Gardens” monumental letters and the renaming of the historic arch to the Hon. Oliver G. Gilbert III Arch of Progress.

Hosted by the MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI REALTORS®), in partnership with the National Association of REALTORS® and City of Miami Gardens Councilwoman Linda Julien, the event marked a proud step forward in civic identity, placemaking and neighborhood revitalization.

Four-foot tall “Miami Gardens” letters were revealed in a bold, photo-ready display, creating a new visual landmark and reinforcing neighborhood identity. Attendees took selfies, posed with family and friends, and shared the moment across social platforms, reinforcing the project’s purpose of community connection and shared local pride.

“MIAMI REALTORS® takes pride in improving and marketing our beautiful South Florida communities one project at a time,” MIAMI REALTORS® Chairman of the Board Eddie Blanco said. “Our famous letters, made possible through placemaking grants, bring people together in a picturesque setting as a conversation piece of art.”

Councilwoman Julien, also a Governor on the MIAMI REALTORS® Residential Board of Governors, led the charge to rename the arch via Resolution NO. 2023-054-1944. She shared heartfelt remarks honoring the legacy of Hon. Oliver G. Gilbert III, a Miami Gardens native, former mayor and county commission chair, whose leadership helped elevate the city to All-American City status in 2020 and sparked a wave of civic and economic growth. 

“Our community is stronger when we invest in spaces that bring people together,” said Julien. “These installations are more than just structures—they are symbols of who we are, who we aspire to be, and the reverence we hold for the leaders that are landmarks themselves in our community.”

The project exemplifies how local REALTOR® associations can partner with government leaders to enhance quality of life, strengthen community ties and drive economic momentum. Since 2017, MIAMI REALTORS® has invested more than $558,000 in South Florida through placemaking grants, turning underused spaces into community beacons. The Miami Gardens installation joins a growing list of high-impact projects across the region, including Miami, Doral, Sweetwater and Jupiter. 

About the MIAMI Association of REALTORS® 

The MIAMI Association of REALTORS® (MIAMI) was chartered by the National Association of Realtors in 1920 and is celebrating 105 years of service to realtors, the buying and selling public, and the communities in South Florida. Comprised of six organizations: MIAMI RESIDENTIAL, MIAMI COMMERCIAL; BROWARD-MIAMI, a division of MIAMI Realtors; JTHS-MIAMI, a division of MIAMI Realtors in the Jupiter-Tequesta-Hobe Sound area; MIAMI YPN, our Young Professionals Network Council; and the award-winning MIAMI Global Council. MIAMI represents 60,000 total real estate professionals in all aspects of real estate sales, marketing, and brokerage. It is the largest local Realtor association in the U.S. and has official partnerships with 281 international organizations worldwide. MIAMI’s official website is www.MiamiRealtors.com