A feature in Listin Diario on 19 August 2015 highlights the contrasting sides of the Mirador del Sur Park’s so-called Avenida de la Salud (Health Avenue). The report points out that on the north sidewalk, together with the principal part of the park, a vista of an expansive city forest is interrupted here and there by the site of trash that has been strewn about by people who, in the 21st century, still do not know how to use the wastebasket.
The reporter observes that if the walkers and joggers who frown at the occasional piece of trash along the north side of Mirador del Sur choose to cross to the south sidewalk of the avenue, they are greeted by an even more unpleasant site. On the south sidewalk of the Avenue of Health, situated next to a green zone, which also belongs to the Mirador del Sur Park, the scenery changes dramatically. With the deep blue Caribbean Sea as a backdrop, one passes under colorful framboyan trees in bloom, as birds and butterflies flit about the green foliage. Just as one begins to enjoy what nature has to offer in the urban greenspace, the senses are bombarded by the overwhelming sites and odors of garbage, plastic bags, wrappers and bottles littering the area. As one continues to walk along the sidewalk it becomes apparent that the Avenue of Health should be more accurately named, “the Avenue of Shame.”
Young reporter Mayelin Francisco notes that persons who walk along the south side of the Avenue are surprised by the amount of refuse that is thrown by visitors and people who work along the Avenue, such as the watchmen. Francisco notes that seemingly no one bothers to pick up the trash.
She finds it odd that on the north side of the avenue there is totally different experience compared to the south side of street. The north side looks fairly clean and the areas of open-air exercise are well maintained in the area of Las Canquinas and the Avenue itself where pedestrians share the walkway with cyclists and joggers.
Francisco reports that during the first week of August she witnessed a paradoxical site: piles of garbage strewn about in close proximity to 50 drums, donated by the Monte de Dios church, which are empty. A local groundskeepers claimed that the tanks had not been distributed throughout the park because the church had not formally made the donation.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2015/08/18/384680/el-parque-mirador-sur-y-la-acera-de-la-vergenza