Parque Graciela Rivera facts for kids

Parque Graciela Rivera is a small, quiet park in Ponce, Puerto Rico. You can find it in the Primero neighborhood, where Calle Aurora meets Calle Torre and Calle Azucena. The park is special because it has a statue called "La Labradora," which means "The Farmer Woman." This lovely park was named after a famous Puerto Rican opera singer, Graciela Rivera.

Where is Parque Graciela Rivera?

This park has a unique triangular shape. It's located right where three streets meet: Calle Aurora, Calle Torre, and Calle Azucena. This area is mostly residential, meaning people live in homes nearby. The city government of Ponce owns and takes care of the park. It's a great spot for people in the neighborhood to relax.

The History of the Park

The park used to be known as Parque Triangular, which simply means "Triangular Park," because of its shape. Its name was changed in 2006 to honor Graciela Rivera. This happened when Francisco Zayas Seijo was the mayor of Ponce.

The park was also rebuilt and improved during Mayor Zayas Seijo's time in office. The person who designed the new look of the park was an architect named Juan R. Dalmau Simbolin. The statue of "La Labradora" was already there before the park was renamed and rebuilt in 2006.

Who was Graciela Rivera?

Graciela Rivera (1921 – 2011) was a very talented Puerto Rican opera singer. She was born in Ponce, the same city where the park is located. From a young age, she loved to sing, and everyone around her recognized her amazing talent.

After finishing high school, Graciela moved to New York City. She studied music at the famous Juilliard School of Music and graduated in 1943. In 1945, she got a big role in a musical called "Rosalinda" on Broadway. She even traveled to France and Germany with the show! She also performed in an opera called "The Barber of Seville" in New Orleans.

A very important moment in her career happened in 1951. Graciela Rivera became the first Puerto Rican singer to have a main role at the New York Metropolitan Opera. She played the character of Lucia in the opera Lucia di Lammermoor. Critics from all over the world praised her performance. In 1953, New York City honored her by calling her "Citizen of the Year." Later, in 1959, she even had her own weekly radio show in New York City. She often traveled between New York and Puerto Rico, and she performed at the IV Pablo Casals Festival in Puerto Rico.

What Can You See at the Park?

Parque Graciela Rivera is a small park, but it's very pleasant. It has several shade trees where you can cool off. There are also benches where you can sit and relax. Because the park is not very big, you can walk around its edges. The middle part of the park is filled with beautiful flower gardens that you can admire from the paths.