Parque de las Ciencias facts for kids
El Pueblito de Torito at Parque de las Ciencias
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| Location | Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
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| Coordinates | 18°24′38″N 66°09′36″W / 18.4106°N 66.1599°W |
| Status | Operating |
| Opened | September 25, 1988 |
| Owner | Municipality of Bayamón |
| Operated by | Municipality of Bayamón (1988–2022) Educational Park Management, Inc. (2022–present) |
| Theme | STEAM education |
| Operating season | Year-round |
| Area | 42 acres (17 ha) |
The Parque de las Ciencias Luis A. Ferré is a fun and educational park in Bayamón, Puerto Rico. It's owned by the city of Bayamón and focuses on STEAM education, which means it teaches about Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math.
This park was created by the city's former mayor, Ramón Luis Rivera. It's named after Luis A. Ferré, who used to be the Governor of Puerto Rico. The park had to close a couple of times for different reasons. However, it reopened on September 18, 2024, ready for visitors again.
Contents
What You Can See at the Park
The park covers a large area of about 42 acres (17 ha). It's easy to get to from major highways.
Main Attractions and Exhibits
Some of the coolest things at the park include:
- An observatory on top of a hill, which is 285 feet (87 meters) high. From here, you can look at the stars and planets!
- A zoo where you can see different animals.
- An artificial lake, perfect for relaxing by.
The park also has many interesting exhibits. These shows teach you about:
- Archaeology: Learning about ancient times and old civilizations.
- Space exploration: Discovering rockets, planets, and astronauts.
- Transportation: Seeing how people and things move around, from old cars to modern vehicles.
- Science and health: Fun ways to learn about how the world works and how to stay healthy.
Special Sections for Entertainers
There's a part of the park dedicated to famous Puerto Rican entertainers. These include:
- José Miguel Agrelot, a beloved comedian.
- Joaquín Monserrat, a children's entertainer known for his character "Pacheco."
In October 2023, the park announced a partnership with Guinness World Records. This means there's a new attraction and exhibition at the park featuring amazing world records!
Park History and Reopenings
The Parque de las Ciencias has faced some challenges over the years, leading to two main periods of closure.
First Closure and Renovations
The park first closed in February 2011. It stayed closed for several years for big renovations. These updates cost about $11 million. The park finally reopened on January 10, 2016, with many new and improved features.
Second Closure and Reopening
The park closed again in September 2017. This time, it was because of the damage caused by two strong storms, Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Maria. These hurricanes caused a lot of damage across Puerto Rico.
In November 2022, the city of Bayamón announced that a new company, Educational Park Management, would operate the park. They worked hard to get it ready for visitors again. The park officially reopened on September 18, 2024. The cost to get the park ready this time was around $20 million. Claro Puerto Rico also helped by sponsoring the reopening.
Images for kids
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Military aircraft pictured on the lawn of the science park in 1996, with the park's observatory in the background.
See also
In Spanish: Parque de las Ciencias (Bayamón) para niños
- Tourism in Puerto Rico
- Bayamón, Puerto Rico
External links
- Parque de las Ciencias at the Bayamón website.
- Article about the park
- TripAdvisor reviews of the park
