Reopenings and new construction projects
Over the past few years, Miami-Dade county has been carrying-o improve the lives of all in the community all while COVID-19 restr BY CAMILA AITKEN AND MAYA SHAH, STAFF WRITERS
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IAMI-DADE COUNTY (MDC) has developed new projects in an effort to improve the city and add more recreational spaces for its inhabitants to enjoy. These projects include the reopenings of popular outdoor malls, the addition of Little Libraries in Coral Gables and a lengthy park beneath the Miami Metrorail. Although COVID-19 has made recreational activities
and ventures more challenging for some, these three new sites will add on to the list of safe things to do in the Miami area, with two projects taking place exclusively outdoors. After nearly two years of renovation, the Coconut Grove community has regained access to CocoWalk, which began its reopening in the summer of 2020. Similarly, by early 2021, certain sections of The Underline park will
soon be ready for residents. The long linear park will transform the unassuming land under the Miami Metrorail into an accessible destination for outdoor activity. Additionally, The City of Coral Gables is installing Little Free Libraries in partnership with the Community Recreation Department. The new updated locations and resources being added will allow for more places of enjoyment for the community.
LITTLE LIBRARIES Across Coral Gables, the Community Recreation Department has installed Little Free Libraries as part of a larger global literacy effort that gives people the opportunity to take a book, leave a book or both for free. Since parks attract young readers and families it makes sense to install the Little Free Libraries. Catalonia park, Majorca and Rotary Centennial Parks have chosen to participate in the global literacy movement. “It’s just a nice experience having books so conveniently placed around the city,” senior Camila Fernandez said. The Little Free Library movement has 100,000 mini libraries in all 50 U.S. states as well as in 108 countries world-wide. Aside from this, the organization has recently
Courtesy of CoralGables.com
launched a new effort to include books from a diverse community called Read In Color. Read in Color will mean more books that reference racism, social justice, the LGBTQ+ community and Black, Indigenous People of Color will be available to readers. The goal for this effort is to increase empathy, understanding and make reading feel more inclusive for all types of people. The Little Free Library is always accepting donations via its website littlefreelibary.org. Donations would go to creating more little libraries around the world and amplifying a variety of voices. Anyone is able to create a Little Free Library by donating to the organization, where the cases are created by the Amish Craftsmen in the United States.
students speak up sy of Kaylah
Cle th e
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I LOVED THE RETRO FEEL OF THE OLDER COCOWALK, BUT I AM EXCITED TO SEE WHAT THEY WILL MAKE OF IT.
esy of Sheila Me ur t lga r
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Kaylah Clethen, junior
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MAKING [LIBRARIES] MORE ACCESSIBLE IN SUCH POPULATED AREAS REALLY HELPS OUR COMMUNITIES.
Sheila Melgar, senior
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