Parque Ecológico Urbano facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parque Ecológico Urbano |
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Entrance to "Parque Ecologico Urbano" in Barrio San Anton, Ponce, Puerto Rico
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| Type | Passive park |
| Location | Barrio San Antón, in Ponce, Puerto Rico |
| Area | 6 "cuerdas" |
| Created | 19 September 2012 |
| Designer | Bonnin Orozco Arquitectos |
| Operated by | Luisa Hernández Alicea, Park Administrator, for the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce |
| Open | Daily from dawn to dusk |
| Status | Open |
The Parque Ecológico Urbano (which means Urban Ecological Park) is a special park in Ponce, Puerto Rico. People also call it Parque Ecológico de Ponce. It's a "passive park," meaning it's a calm place for nature and relaxation. This park was designed by a group called Bonnin Orozco Arquitectos. It first opened its doors on September 19, 2012.
What makes this park so cool is that it was made to be a "green lung" for the city. This means it helps the city breathe by having lots of plants and fresh air. Everything about the park, from the building materials to its overall look, was planned with nature in mind. Almost all the trees and bushes that were already there before the park was built were kept. Only one tree was moved to a different spot within the park!
Contents
History of the Park
How the Park Was Built
The design for the Parque Ecológico Urbano was created by Bonnin Orozco Arquitectos. Construction on the park began on March 10, 2010. By February 2012, almost half of the park was finished.
Opening Day
The park was supposed to open in August 2012. The first opening date was set for August 24, 2012. However, Hurricane Isaac hit that week, so the opening had to be put off for a few weeks. The park finally had its grand opening on September 19, 2012. Many famous artists, like Dagmar, Glenn Monroig, Jackeline Capó, and Ángel ‘Cuco’ Peña, performed at the opening celebration.
Park Costs and Future Plans
How Much Did It Cost?
Building the Parque Ecológico Urbano cost about $4.5 million. That's a lot of money, but it helped create a beautiful green space for everyone to enjoy.
Connecting Parks
This park is also special because it will connect to other parks nearby. It will link up with another park called Parque Lineal Veredas del Labrador. There are also plans to make the Parque Ecológico even bigger by extending it south to connect with Parque de la Ceiba. This will create a large network of green spaces in Ponce.
What Can You Find at the Park?
The Parque Ecológico Urbano has many cool features for visitors:
- An amphitheater that can hold up to 672 people. This is a great spot for shows or events.
- A winding path that you can walk or run on.
- Two special buildings called pavilions, which can be used for exhibitions or displays.
- An artificial river that is 466 feet long.
The park also connects to other parks, like the Parque Lineal Veredas del Labrador and Parque Julio Enrique Monagas. This makes it easy to explore even more nature!
A Special Project for Ponce
The Parque Ecológico Urbano was a very important project for the city of Ponce. The mayor at the time, María Meléndez Altieri, considered it one of the five most important projects of her time in office. It shows how much the city valued creating green spaces for its people.
