Santo Domingo expands sidewalk recovery program with new linear parks

Santo Domingo Mayor Carolina Mejía said the National District has been expanding its sidewalk recovery initiative since 2025, transforming illegally occupied public spaces into linear parks to improve pedestrian access and neighborhood beautification.

The program, led by the Mayor’s Office through its Directorate of Public Space Advocacy and Use, has already reclaimed sidewalks in areas including La Yagüita, Villa María, Mata Hambre, and around the Dr. Luis Eduardo Aybar Health City, removing stalls, workshops, benches, and other structures that had obstructed pedestrian pathways.

Following the recovery of these spaces, the city has launched cleanup and beautification efforts that include new lighting, bollards, murals, trees, benches, and landscaping to create safe, accessible public areas for residents.

The next phase will focus on Viuda de la Cruz Street in Villa Consuelo, where a 400-meter stretch of sidewalk will be restored. The project will also feature murals celebrating Dominican culture and notable figures in the arts, sports, and public life.

Mejía also highlighted the successful recovery of sidewalks along Nicolás de Ovando Avenue, which had been occupied by businesses for more than 25 years and are now once again accessible to thousands of pedestrians, including users of the Los Taínos Metro station.