kids encyclopedia robot

Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
For the boardwalk in the same city that is part of this complex, see Paseo Tablado La Guancha.
Quick facts for kids
Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha
La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex
La Guancha.jpg
Paseo Tablado La Guancha, the centerpice of the La Guancha Recreational Complex
Type Passive park
Location Bario Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Area approx 20 cuerdas
Created 23 June 1998
Operated by Autonomous Municipality of Ponce
Status Open every day
Parking Several areas with parking for about 900 vehicles

The Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha, also known as La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex, is a fun place in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It's located in the Playa neighborhood. This complex opened on June 23, 1998. It has many cool things for families to enjoy.

The main attraction here is the Paseo Tablado La Guancha. This is a boardwalk right by the sea. You'll find a beach, a tall observation tower, and an outdoor stage. There are also 24 open-air shops called kiosks. This whole complex was built when Rafael Cordero Santiago was the mayor. It was closed for repairs in October 2017. Then, in January 2020, it was badly damaged by the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes. As of June 2020, it remained closed.

Discovering La Guancha: A Fun Place to Visit

La Guancha started as a simple road and sidewalk. It was built next to a wall near the eastern shore of the Playa neighborhood. This spot was a favorite for families and couples. They would come to relax and spend time together, especially on weekends.

How La Guancha Became a Big Complex

During Mayor Cordero's time, many new things were added to La Guancha. This turned it into a large recreational complex. The improvements cost over $18 million. Engineer Axel Bonilla Cortes designed all the new parts.

What Can You Do at La Guancha?

Seven new areas were added to the existing walkway. These additions made La Guancha a much bigger and more exciting place.

Cool Places to Explore

  • Dr. Enrique "Coco" Vicens Recreational and Cultural Center: This is a huge outdoor stage. It's called "Tarima Hector Lavoe." About 30,000 people can sit and watch concerts here.
  • Rides and Amusement Park Area: This spot is perfect for festivals and fairs. It's where fun rides and games are set up.
  • Jose Angel Zayas Colon Children's Park: This park has over 40 games just for kids! There's also the Chamorro-Franceschini Brothers Park. This special area has facilities for kids with disabilities.
  • Parking Areas: There are several places to park your car. Together, they can hold about 900 vehicles.
  • Majestic Fountain: At the center of the complex, you'll see a beautiful fountain. It shows the city's coat-of-arms and its famous lion symbol.
  • Multi-Use Building: This building houses important services. It includes offices for the Ponce Municipal Police. There are also facilities for medical emergencies and ambulances.
  • Nourished Beach Area: The beach here got a big upgrade! Over 10,000 cubic meters of new sand were added. This made the beach bigger and better. It also has five beach volleyball courts, small shelters called gazebos, and ramps to get to the Caribbean Sea. Plus, it's all lit up at night.

This big project also worked with the new tourist pier nearby. That pier had cost $4 million to build.

Funding for the Fun

The Autonomous Municipality of Ponce's Department of Community and Economic Development built the complex. It cost about $18.6 million in total. This money covered buying land, building the facilities, and improving roads leading to the complex.



Earthquake Effects on La Guancha

The complex was damaged by the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes.

Gallery

  • La Guancha air view

    Aerial view of the Complex (right half)

  • Hector Lavoe Plaza at La Guancha, in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03541)

    Hector Lavoe Rides and Amusement Plaza (Western End)

  • Children looking at fish at La Guancha, Ponce, Puerto Rico

    Children looking at fish at La Guancha

  • Rides and Amusement Park Area at La Guancha, in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03540)

    Rides and Amusement Park Area (Eastern End)

  • Jose Angel Zayas Colon Children's Park sign at La Guancha, in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03548)

    Jose Angel Zayas Colon Children's Park sign

  • Children's Playground at La Guancha in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03531)

    Children's Playground at the Jose Angel Zayas Colon Children's Park

  • Children's Area, Complejo Recreativo La Guancha in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03530A)

    Sign marking the Children's Area

  • Chamorro Franceschini Bros. Handicapped Childrens' Park at La Guancha in barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03532A)

    Chamorro-Franceschini Bros. Handicapped Children's Park

  • Estacionamiento Publico en el Area Recreacional La Guancha, en el Barrio Playa, Ponce, PR (DSC04993)

    Public parking for over 900 cars at La Guancha

  • Lion at the Entrance to La Guancha in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03537)

    Majestic Fountain and Lion at the Entrance to La Guancha

  • Sign marking the multiple use building at La Guancha Recreational Complex (DSC03528A)

    Sign marking the Multiuse Building

  • Administrative Multiuse Building at La Guancha, in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03543)

    Administrative Multiuse Building

  • EMS Office at La Guancha, in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03547)

    EMS Office at the Multi Use Building

  • Beach volleyball courts at La Guancha, in Barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03546)

    Beach volleyball courts

  • Ponce La Guancha Beach

    Sand-nourished La Guancha Beach

  • Ponce Muncipal Band gazebo at La Guancha in barrio Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03536)

    Ponce Municipal Band Gazebo

  • Walkway at La Guancha Recreational Complex at Barrio Playa in Ponce, Puerto Rico (DSC03529)

    Walkway

kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.