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Re-openings and new construction projects take place throughout Miami-Dade
Over the past few years, Miami-Dade county has been carrying-out several reconstructions and additions to the city in order to improve the lives of all in the community
BY CAMILA AITKEN AND MAYA SHAH, STAFF WRITERS
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Miami-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.
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 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.
COCOWALK
After two years of construction, CocoWalk is open to the public at 3015 Grand Ave, with a new selection of boutiques and restaurants for visitors.
Since the mall was first built in 1990, it reflected the taste of a different time period and over 30 years later, the mall has transformed into a modern structure with a glass wing for office space to be leased.
The renovation was done to match the luxury apartments and condos that surround the area and border the waterfront.
Among the new restaurants are Planta Queen, Sushi Garage and Mister 01 Extraordinary. Some of the new boutiques added to Cocowalk are Free People Movement, Europann and Late Night Gypsy.
THE UNDERLINE
Underneath Miami’s Metrorail is a 10- mile linear park and trail set to be completed in upcoming years. The project aims to be a safe and innovative space for pedestrians and pets. It will cover a total of 120 acres from the Miami River station to the Dadeland South Station and will be completed in a series of phases, each with respective names and themes. Phase 1 is projected to be open to the public in early 2021.
“I think it is good to have outdoor areas for people to visit now ... they are easier to social distance in and can help to relieve stress,” senior Carla Aragon said.
Phase 1 includes The River Room, The Urban Gym section, The Promenade, and the Oolite Room. These landscapes will feature a dog-friendly walkway, different ball courts and fitness equipment, meditation areas, a sound stage, and four butterfly gardens. The ultimate goal of the project is to help increase accessibility to public transportation for citizens and help connect communities.
While COVID-19 has stopped in-person gatherings, their website, theunderline. org, hosts virtual events and meetings where people can voice their concerns and suggestions about The Underline with members of the Department of Transportation and Public Works.
