The local merchants began to complain about Domino Park in 1986. The vagrants and marijuana dealers who gathered in the park disturbed the merchants. The local police station set up a round-the-clock watch in an effort to appease the merchants. The businesses wanted the park closed for good. They suggested moving the domino players to José Martí Park. This suggestion did not go over well with the players. Thus began a mini-war.                           

On June 4, 1987, city police roped off Domino Park to begin restorations. The original restorations called for a new concrete pavement, tree-trimming, refurbished bathrooms, and a resurfacing of domino tables. The denizens of Domino Park were saddened by the idea of no more public domino games. According to José Martínez, one of the avid players, "It's a medicine" (Marquis 1). He remembers sitting on milk crates to play dominos at the site before it became a city mini-park in the mid-seventies. Martínez says, "People remember how it was to play in Cuba. They forget their sadness" (Marquis 1). The park was originally planned to close for six months to finish restorations.                    

On June 5, a day after the park shut down, local merchants lobbied to close the park for good. There were still persistent problems with drug dealers. The Little Havana shopkeepers sent a 300- signature petition to the city commission's office, asking them to keep the park permanently closed.                                                               

The city commission unanimously approved the parks re-opening on November 19, 1987. They decided not to permanently close the park despite numerous cries from the local businesses. They did provide a solution to pacify the merchants. The Little Havana Development Authority would run the new system. They would be in charge of keeping peace in Domino Park.                                                                                                                                     

Domino Park was supposed to re-open before Christmas, but the commission pushed the date back to March. The new operations needed more time to renovate the park. In February of 1987, the city postponed the opening date to make improvements. The new improvements for the park included a fumigation of the wooden picnic tables for termites and a renovation of the bathrooms: " A new sign with the park's proper name—Maximo Gomez mini-park—was also put up. Gomez was a Cuban revolutionary war hero" (Herald Staff 3).       

When February rolled around, the park was still closed. Again, they pushed the date back even further. The new plan called for fixing the park's rest rooms, repairing the shelters, adding more lighting, removing shade trees, and trimming back the tree roots. Around the same time, the Little Havana Development Authority decided on regulations for Domino Park. The regulations included such innovations as the park being open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. only Monday through Saturday, and an age requirement of 55 and over. The security guard would check the newly issued membership ID's before allowing citizens into the park.

In 1988, the city was able to use an age rule at the park because it was not considered discrimination in Miami. According to Lucia Dougherty, at that time there had been no code for age discrimination: "There are federal and state guidelines that prohibit such restrictions thus the city can't use federal or state funds to repair or operate the park" (Hancock 3).

September 24, 1988, was a most anticipated day. The men of Little Havana were able to play dominos again in the park. The players and the park were finally brought together again after 480 days of renovations and restorations.

On the day of the park's re-opening, Miami mayor, Xavier Suarez, and Commissioner Victor De Yurre, came to play a few rounds of dominos. A crowd of about 150 residents gathered outside the park. They sat there waiting calmly outside the newly built wrought-iron gate. When Mayor Suarez arrived, the park hummed with activity and the games began. The domino players welcomed the park back into their hearts. As planned, the private security guard, hired by the Little Havana Development Authority, turned away anyone who was under 55.

Since the 480-day closure of Domino Park between 1987 and 1988, there have been no other shutdowns. The park has become a definite attraction for Miami tourists. Its new architecture shows the pride Miami and Little Havana has for their beloved park. The park provides a safe place for the retirees to enjoy games of dominos and chess. If you were to walk down Calle Ocho, you would be able to hear the clanking of domino pieces, the laughter of old, Cuban men, and the robust scent of strong Cuban coffee.

Shana Hornstein