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 News from Around Banderas Bay | September 2005 
Parks vs Parking Lots Debate Continues
 PVNN
| | Faced with the destruction of two parks so far this year, and two more in the days to come, Puerto Vallarta citizens gathered at Lazaro Cardenas Park last week to peacefully protest the construction of another public parking structure. |
Puerto Vallarta - Agustín Alvarez Valdivia, President of the Tourism Commission for Puerto Vallarta, recently stated that as far as he is concerned, the deterioration of the "typical pueblito" image that has characterized our town for so many years is beginning to damage the city's appeal.
According to Valdivia, "Vallarta has always been an icon with regard to tranquility, public safety, and the visual image of a typical Mexican pueblito. All of these things must be preserved to the maximum, and we're already experiencing situations that threaten these points."
The people of Vallarta seem to agree. Faced with the destruction of two parks so far this year, and two more in the days to come, around 300 people gathered at Lazaro Cardenas Park last week to peacefully protest the construction of a public parking structure at Lazaro Cardenas Park and to criticize Mayor Gustavo Gonzalez Villaseñor's environmental policies.
Lazaro Cardenas Park is one of the city's most beautiful and lush parks, located just off of Los Muertos Beach on the south side of Puerto Vallarta - and the next park slated for destruction. Adding their support in defense of the parks and the environment, various folkloric ballet troupes, including the University of Guadalajara's, entertained the protesters under the shade of the 116 trees that grow in Lazaro Cardenas Park.
Speakers from various organizations called for the defense of public spaces, and our parks in particular. They announced the creation of a "Citizens' Network," which includes various professionals and college professors, including biologists. "Our goal is to defend the environment and cover the spaces the Mayor has taken away from us," said Jorge Tellez, a professor at the University of Guadalajara and President of Nuestra Tierra.
Local landowner Adela Beltran recounted how, four years ago, the then local deputy Gustavo Gonzalez had fiercely opposed the concession of parks, "and now he's handing them over to private capital." Javier Fabris, who formed part of the failed attempts to save Parque Hidalgo added, "Today, nature is less protected than ever. The governments of the world, including Mexico's, are selling the natural riches to voracious and irresponsible businessmen."
Municipal Trustee Miguel Ángel Yerena Ruiz stated that the date has not yet been set for the construction of the Lazaro Cardenas parking garage. Projects are still being analyzed and construction will not begin until the Hidalgo underground parking facilities are completed and operating.
According to Yerena Ruiz, Mayor Gustavo González Villaseñor and the head of the Register and Permits Department, Miguel Ángel Rodríguez Curiel, are revising the proper relocation of the vendors who were operating in Hidalgo and Juarez parks before they were razed. He stressed the fact that once all of the parking garages have been built, vendors will not be allowed to set up their stands. They will have locales built especially for them, in order to give Puerto Vallarta a "better image." |
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