On a formal ceremony held Monday in Bajos de Haina, Dominican Republic President Luis Abinader alongside Tourism Minister David Collado officially opened the first phase of the highly anticipated Health Boulevard public space project, a development backed by over 165 million Dominican pesos (RD$) in public investment focused on upgrading local communal infrastructure and raising living standards for area residents.
Spanning a total development area of 27,820 square meters, the completed first phase of the project is projected to deliver tangible benefits to more than 83,000 people living in the surrounding region. Upgrades completed in this stage include new paved pedestrian pathways, expanded green belts, purpose-built recreational and sports facilities, modern urban furniture, professional landscape design, upgraded public lighting, and a large-scale local reforestation initiative.
Speaking to attendees at the inauguration, President Abinader stressed that the Health Boulevard is far more than a conventional public construction project. Beyond its physical infrastructure, he highlighted the transformative social impact it will have on local community welfare. The new boulevard, he noted, will give local families and children a secure, welcoming space for leisure activities, while driving long-term improvements to quality of life for both permanent residents and visitors to the area.
Minister Collado framed the new boulevard as a game-changing development for the entire municipality of Haina. Beyond serving as a much-needed recreational hub for local households, he explained, the project is also positioned to act as a key catalyst for expanding tourism activity across the region. Collado also disclosed that, as part of the national government’s broader push to revitalize public spaces and drive inclusive local development, a total of more than RD$780 million has already been allocated to a range of public projects across Haina.
The first phase of the Health Boulevard was delivered by the Executive Committee for Infrastructure in Tourist Zones (CEIZTUR), the government body tasked with overseeing the initiative. Completed amenities included a new public access plaza, sprawling green recreational areas, dedicated zones for sports and leisure activities, 570 meters of accessible pedestrian walkways, on-site parking facilities, a modern children’s playground, an open-air amphitheater, and a regulation-size basketball court. Construction crews also installed fully upgraded sanitary and electrical infrastructure to support the long-term, reliable operation of all public facilities at the site.
Looking ahead, government officials confirmed that the Health Boulevard initiative will advance to a second phase of development in the coming period. This upcoming stage will focus on constructing a full-service community center that will host a range of public services and community support programs for Haina residents.