Miami officials marked what would have been Celia Cruz’s 101st birthday on Wednesday by unveiling plans for a park in her honor. Commissioner Ralph Rosado presented the first rendering of the space, which will be called Plaza Azúcar.
The park will be at 650 Beacom Boulevard in the Calle Ocho area, a neighborhood known for its Cuban and Latin culture. When it is finished, the main attraction will be a large-scale sculpture of the singer. City officials expect the site to become a major cultural destination.
If built, it would be the first park in Miami dedicated to the Queen of Salsa and the third in the United States to honor her.
Guests at the event were served music and a pig roast. They also received commemorative 25-cent coins featuring Cruz.
Cruz died in 2003 at age 77. She is widely remembered for popularizing salsa music, for her status as one of the most popular Latin artists of the 20th century, and for her outspoken opposition to the Castro regime.
