President Leonel Fernandez officially opened the Duarte Shopping District and remodelled Enriquillo Park on Sunday, 3 August. The city enhancement works were carried out by the Santo Domingo city government at a cost of more than RD$217 million, as reported by the Presidency. Underground electricity was installed, which accounted for RD$162 million of the investment. A three-level plaza for small vendors was completed at adjacent Mella Avenue. And a Book and Music Stores Walkway was incorporated on the section between Duarte Avenue and Jose Marti, Caracas and Jacinto de la Concha, where several small music and book stores are located.
Enriquillo Park is adjacent to an area of the city from where numerous commuter buses leave for interior towns.
The new Duarte Shopping District is a shopping area known for its low prices. Duarte ends at the recently-remodeled Chinatown section of Santo Domingo, making the area well worth a visit for bargain shopping and eating, plus experiencing first hand the Chinese and Taiwanese influence in the DR.