The mayor of Miami, Tomas Regalado, announced Thursday a new $1 million project to enhance Calle Ocho.
The project will consist of extending the plaza where the iconic Domino Park is located on Southwest 15th Avenue to the north side of Eighth Street. Also, the mayor has plans for building new sidewalks, planting trees along the sidewalk to provide shade for pedestrians and a new innovative trash can. Yes, trash can.
The trash can displays local artists’ art on its side and is immune to graffiti—the first of its kind.
Regalado proposed to extend the plaza because of people constantly dancing on the street late in the evening, interrupting motorists and causing traffic problems.
“We’re not going to prohibit people from dancing, so we will accommodate everyone,” he said.
This project is one of many that he and city commissioners have teamed up on for the augmentation of Little Havana.
Other projects in progress include the restoration of the the Tower Theater, the overall refurbishment of Domino Park and bringing the trolley system along CalleOcho.
Though the mayor hopes this project starts as soon as possible, that is not always a reality.
“Unfortunately the city of Miami and the bureaucracy take a long time. Some of our other projects still haven’t been finished, so unfortunately that’s one area of government I haven’t been able to overcome yet,” said City Commissioner Frank Carollo.
