Parque del Litoral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parque Litoral Israel "Shorty" Castro |
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View of the "Plaza de las Banderas" at the northern section of park
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| Type | Urban park |
| Location | Mayagüez, Puerto Rico |
| Area | 42 acres (17 ha) |
| Created | 2010 |
| Operated by | City of Mayagüez |
| Status | http://www.paseolitoral.com/ |
The Parque Litoral Israel "Shorty" Castro is a wonderful park located right by the ocean in Mayagüez, Puerto Rico. Many people simply call it "Parque del Litoral," which means "Coastal Park." This park is a popular place for families and friends to enjoy the beautiful views and outdoor activities. It was built to be a special gift to the city of Mayagüez.
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Why the Park Was Built
The park was created because the city of Mayagüez was chosen to host the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games. These were big sports events! The park was one of many projects built to get the city ready. The idea was for the park to be a lasting gift for the city, something that would stay important long after the games were over.
Exploring the Park
This amazing park stretches for about 2.5 kilometers (that's about 1.5 miles!). On one side, you have the beautiful Mayagüez Bay, and on the other, there's the José González Clemente Avenue. The whole park covers a large area of about 42 acres.
The park has different cool sections:
- At the northern end, near the Yagüez River, you'll find the "Central American Plaza." This is a special open space.
- There's also an open-air amphitheater, which is like an outdoor stage for performances.
- Towards the southern end, the park connects with other fun places like the Parque Infantil del Milenio (a children's park).
- It's also close to two sports stadiums: the new José Antonio Figueroa Athletics Stadium and the Isidoro García Stadium.
How the Park Was Made
Designing this park took a lot of work! The plans were created by two companies, Bonnin Orozco Architectural Firm and Local Office Landscape Architecture. They worked on the design for about a year and a half, from January 2006 to July 2007.
After the designs were ready, construction began in December 2007. The building work was finished in 2010, just in time for the big games. The entire project cost around $19.4 million, and the Government of Puerto Rico helped pay for it. The construction was done by a company called Ferrovial Agroman, S.A. The engineers Nelson Rodríguez and Jaime R. Roberts were in charge of the park's structure.
Honoring Shorty Castro
The park is named after a very special person from Puerto Rico: Shorty Castro. He was a beloved local comedian and musician. In 2010, the government passed a law, Puerto Rican Public Law 186, to honor him by naming this new shoreline park after him. It's a way to remember his contributions and talent.
Awards the Park Won
In 2010, the Parque Litoral Israel "Shorty" Castro won three important awards! These were part of the "Obras Cemex" Award competition. The park won in these categories:
- Infrastructure: This means how well it was built and designed.
- Sustainability: This means how friendly it is to the environment.
- Coherency with Accessibility: This means how easy it is for everyone, including people with disabilities, to use and enjoy.
It was the first time in this competition that the same project won both the sustainability and accessibility awards! The judges were very impressed. They looked at things like how the park cleaned up old water canals, making them a positive part of the area. They also liked that the park reduced light pollution, which is important for sea turtles, and that local trees were planted.
Images for kids
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Litoral Park
