CLEVELAND (WJW) — A new garden is taking shape on Cleveland’s East Side, adding Puerto Rican history and heritage to the city’s Cultural Gardens.
The Puerto Rican Cultural Garden is planned near East 88th Street, across from the Rockefeller Greenhouse and Sam Miller Park.
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Organizers say they envision the space as a vibrant community gathering place celebrating the history, culture and contributions of Puerto Ricans in Cleveland.
For Leticia Maldonado, one of the co-founders of the Cleveland Puerto Rican Heritage Coalition, the idea started with a walk along Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
“Every day when I walk my dog, I’m seeing more Latin representation, and being one of the largest Latino populated groups in Cleveland, I was like, where are we and how can we make it happen?” Maldonado said.
A connection to Cleveland’s roots
Organizers say placing the garden on the East Side is especially meaningful because of the area’s connection to Cleveland’s Puerto Rican community…