Miami has a fair share of weird landmarks like cars on the sides of buildings, and the Coral Castle down south. But perhaps one of the most unique is located in the Southern Memorial Park graveyard just outside North Miami Beach.

If you drive past the cemetery along West Dixie Highway, you might spot a big elephant and a couple lions amid all the other gravestones. That’s a section of the graveyard where former circus and carnival performers are buried called the Miami Showmen’s Association Rest.

But how did it come to be? We spoke with the association’s historian to figure out when it was established, and how a train wreck inspired these specially-designated places around the country.

Check out the full story on our website.

Thanks to O Cinema’s own Kareem Tabsch for being curious about this spot a while back, and inspiring us to check it out.

If there are any other Miami mysteries you all are curious about, feel free to hit us up at [email protected] and we’ll try to find an answer!

In Miami Springs, there’s a beautiful park with a gazebo, big shade trees and benches. It’s perfect for a picnic or a relaxing afternoon.

But the problem? It’s in the middle of a roundabout. The other problem? There’s no safe way to get to it.

“You have to get there by jaywalking, and that’s kind of dangerous,” said Jennifer Llerena, someone who — thanks to a $18,000 grant from The Miami Foundation’s Public Space Challenge — is working to make it safer and easier to get to Circle Park.

Do you see an opportunity in your community to improve the way residents get around Miami-Dade? The 2019 Public Space Challenge is accepting submissions now through May 16, so submit your idea today and you could receive funding (and help) to make it happen.

Need inspiration? Head over to our website to learn more about the Circle Park project.

PRODUCED BY THE NEW TROPIC STUDIO WITH THE MIAMI FOUNDATION

We know the legislative session has felt like the talk of the town for the past few weeks, but its ripple effects are still being felt here in the 305. Namely in the form of several items that will impact how our county and city governments can conduct business and enforce laws.

Officials from the Miami-Dade county commission level down to the cities of Miami Beach and Coral Gables are all thinking ahead to the 2020 session, and planning to be more involved.

Some of the bills that impact local government include: a 5-year restriction on cities banning plastic straw use, removing county control over where cellphone towers can be placed, and rolling back restrictions on tree trimming.

As County Commissioner Audrey Edmonson put it, in reference to Tallahassee: “For the next session, we all have to go up there.”

In other news…

Ultra Music Festival is leaving the City of Miami, after a controversial showing in its new home at Virginia Key. The festival’s organizers announced that the festival, which has called the City of Miami home for two decades, won’t be hosted there next year. A potential next stop? The Homestead-Miami Speedway. (Miami Herald)

The city of South Miami has been a longtime leader on green initiatives, and its latest move aims to put that reputation to the test. City commissioners approved a resolution to affirm that South Miami will work to run on completely renewable energy by 2040. It’s the first city in Miami-Dade to make the pledge. (Miami New Times)

Our affordable housing woes are particularly tough for artists. But a new housing experiment in Lake Worth could be an example for all of SoFlo. The Neighborhood Renaissance development provides affordable housing units for artists above a first-floor workspace where they can sell their creations. (WLRN)

If you’re a woman entrepreneur looking to take your business to the next level, then we want to put a few info sessions for the Babson Women Innovating Now Lab on your radar.

Applications are open for the five-month program, and there are info sessions happening tonight and May 23 at WeWork Brickell and CIC Miami, respectively.

Best of luck to any potential applicants. We’ll see ya tomorrow, Miami. ✌️

– The New Tropic