The Parque Ecológico Urbano (English: Urban Ecological Park), also known as Parque Ecológico de Ponce, is a passive park in
Ponce, Puerto Rico. The park was designed by Bonin Orozco Arquitectos[4] and was inaugurated on 19 September 2012.[5] The park is unique in that it was designed to create a "green lung" in the city by using ecological mindset in its entirety, from the construction materials used to the design and other areas as well. Except for one tree that got relocated within the project, the new park made use of all the existing trees and shrubs as they existed on the site prior to the development of the park.[6]
History
Design of the park was by Bonnin Orozco Arquitectos.[7] The municipality started construction on 10 March 2010.[8] By February 2012, 46% of the construction had been completed.[9] It was scheduled to open in August 2012,[10][11] and the inauguration date was set for 24 August 2012,[12] but due to
Hurricane Isaac that week, it was postponed several weeks. The park was finally inaugurated on 19 September 2012.[13] It was inaugurated with the animation of various artists including
Dagmar,
Glenn Monroig,
Jackeline Capó and
Ángel ‘Cuco’ Peña.[14]
Cost
The initial cost of the park is $4.5 million.[15] The park will link to,[16] but it is different from, another park also currently under construction called Parque Lineal Veredas del Labrador.[17][18][19] In addition, there are plans to extend Parque Ecologico southward to connect to
Parque de la Ceiba.[20]
Features
The park will have an
amphitheater with room for 672 people, a waving path, two pavilions for exhibitions, and a 466-feet artificial river.[21] The park will link to Parque Lineal Veredas del Labrador and to
Parque Julio Enrique Monagas.[22][23]
Signature project
Parque Ecológico Urbano is a project of Ponce Mayor
María Meléndez Altieri. She has called the construction of the park one of the five "signature" projects of her administration.[24]
^Un rincón para repensar la Ciudad. Carmen Cila Rodríguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30. Issue 1504. Page 24. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Weblink Updated 17 April 2018.
^Con manos llenas en año eleccionario. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012. (Weblink updated 17 April 2018.)
^Para agosto el Parque Ecológico de Ponce. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30. Issue 1495. 25 July 2012. Page 4. Retrieved 26 July 2012. Weblink updated 17 April 2018.
^Un rincón para repensar la Ciudad. Carmen Cila Rodríguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30. Issue 1504. Page 24. 26 September 2012. Retrieved 26 September 2012. Weblink Updated 17 April 2018.
^Con manos llenas en año eleccionario. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30. Issue 1470. Pages 6-7. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012. Weblink updated 17 April 2018.
^Con manos llenas en año eleccionario. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 30. Issue 1470. Pages 6-7. 1 February 2012. Retrieved 6 February 2012.