Why the Trees on Calle 60 Never Had a Chance

The stretch of Calle 60 that leads into Mérida’s Corredor Gastronómico (Gastronomic Corridor) is getting a second chance. City officials say the worn-down green area — now little more than dry dirt and a broken irrigation system — will be restored in the coming weeks.

Work will begin with cleaning, irrigation system repairs, electrical maintenance, and the addition of ornamental plants and grass. City officials expect the job to wrap up by mid-March, timed to take advantage of ideal transplanting conditions during the dry season.

The restoration targets a segment that was once intended to serve as a green gateway to one of the city’s most-visited streets. Instead, foot and vehicle traffic, combined with the relentless heat, wore it down over time. The irrigation system stopped working, and what had been a maintained green area gave way to bare, cracked earth.

Ten maculís trees (Tabebuia rosea) — the pink-flowering native tree beloved across the Yucatán Peninsula — remain planted along the stretch and will be incorporated into the restored design. These are part of the 150 maculís that then-Gov. Mauricio Vila Dosal planted along Calles 60 and 47 in early April 2024. The original vision was for the trees to eventually form a canopy of green foliage and pink blossoms, connecting the Centro Histórico with the Paseo de Montejo, Parque Santa Lucía and the sprawling Parque La Plancha.

Progress has been slow but steady. Montalvo Duarte said the trees planted in the ground are growing at 35 to 65 centimeters (about 14 to 25 inches) per year and should provide functional shade for pedestrians within four to six years. The maculís growing in planters on Calle 60 are advancing a bit more slowly — between 20 and 40 centimeters (8 to 16 inches) annually — because their root space is more restricted.

“These specimens suffered partial loss of fine roots after transplanting and needed time to adapt to new soil,” Montalvo Duarte explained. “That’s why we monitor substrate quality and irrigation levels to track their health.”

The maculís is a staple of Mérida’s urban landscape. Native to a region stretching from southern Mexico down to Venezuela and Ecuador, the tree can grow to 30 meters (nearly 100 feet) in the wild, though city specimens tend to stay smaller. It is best known for its dramatic seasonal bloom — clusters of trumpet-shaped pink flowers that burst from bare branches during the dry season, typically triggered when the tree drops its leaves in response to drought. SPM staff noted that some maculís in other parts of the city have already bloomed early this year, a phenomenon Montalvo Duarte attributed to an accelerated dry period in November and December, which activated the trees’ reproductive cycle sooner than expected.

The Corredor Gastronómico has become one of Mérida’s top tourist draws since its inauguration in November 2023. The corridor runs along Calle 47, linking the Remate de Montejo with Parque La Plancha, and is packed with restaurants, bars and sidewalk seating. The broader project — backed by state, municipal and federal investment — was designed to stitch together the Plaza Grande, Calle 60, Calle 47 and La Plancha into a walkable corridor through the historic center.

The green zone restoration is a smaller but telling piece of that puzzle. Without functioning landscaping at its entrance, the corridor loses some of the visual continuity that planners intended. SPM staff currently maintain the maculís along the route during the dry season, when supplemental watering is essential to the trees’ survival.

Corredor Gastronómico Green Zone Restoration

• Location: Calle 60, between Calles 45 and 61, approaching the Corredor Gastronómico
• Work planned: Cleaning, irrigation system repair, electrical maintenance, ornamental planting and sod
• Expected completion: Mid-March 2026
• Trees: 10 maculís (Tabebuia rosea) to remain in place; 150 total planted along Calles 60 and 47 in April 2024
• Growth rate: 35–65 cm (14–25 in.) per year in-ground; 20–40 cm (8–16 in.) in planters
• Shade timeline: Functional canopy expected in four to six years
• Agency: Dirección de Servicios Públicos Municipales (SPM)