About 72 trees to be planted for shade in Little Havana

Some shady characters are heading to Little Havana.

About 72 trees will be planted at transit stops and corridors throughout the historic Miami neighborhood today, thanks to the S.H.A.D.E. Project, which stands for Shaping Healthy, Active, Deep-rooted, Environments.

“Little Havana is part of an area that is considered a heat zone, with a lack of shaded trees,” said Michael Roman, community partnerships manager for Live Healthy Little Havana, a city of Miami initiative that promotes healthy lifestyles. “We are trying to create more shade.”

Roman said the planting, which will include pigeon plum, white geiger and pink tabebuia trees, will be focused at bus areas because “we want to promote transportation and make it a more comfortable environment for those who are walking to bus stops and waiting at the transit stops.”

This isn’t the first time Little Havana has participated in the program. It received 100 trees in 2015.

About 70 trees were planted in Miami Gardens by 55 volunteers on Wednesday.

“It was well-attended, and the community had a great time,” said Roman.

The tree plantings are part of a collective project of partners that includes the Health Foundation of South Florida’s Live Healthy Community Partnership program, MiamiDade County, Neat Streets Miami, Million Trees Miami and Citizens for a Better South Florida.

Volunteers will meet at 8:30 a.m. today at Northwest Fifth Street, between Northwest 12th and 13th avenues.

“We would love to have additional volunteers at the event,” said Roman. “We are always engaging the community to be more active.”

To volunteer, visit live healthylittlehavana.com /volunteer.html or call 305-416-1618.