Nature, to be commanded, must be obeyed. — Sir Francis Bacon
July 28, 2009 will mark the 3rd Anniversary of the loss of Parque Lazaro Cardenas in Colonia Emiliano Zapata. The other 3 major parks of Puerto Vallarta; Hidalgo, Benito Juarez and Plaza Pitillal; were all lost from March 2005 to February 2006.
The primary reasons given by the authorities for the conversion of the parks to parking lots were: to resolve the parking problem downtown, reduce traffic downtown, resolve the street vendor situation and to have more beautiful parks. I would say that none of these objectives were achieved. It was also mentioned that none of the new parking structures would have vendors or offices. Benito Juarez has vendors and Hidalgo has offices. All four of the new parking lots would remain as a park...I guess Benito Juarez wasn't included in that statement. After three years, you can be the judge.
Aside from the failure of the parking lots improving or resolving any of the stated problems, there have been other effects which can now be noted.
The heat generated by the "concrete parks" in the middle of the day during the summer months render them almost unserviceable during the daytime. The parks provide shade only at night. During the hot part of a tropical summer day, they are practically deserted. It was estimated by the University of Guadalajara that the downtown temperatures could rise by 3º with the loss of the mature trees of the former parks.
The four story Benito Juarez parking garage blocks the view of the ocean, blocks the breeze and the view of the sunset.
The parks that traditionally served as a gathering place for the retired locals has also been lost. Grandparents seldom take their grandchildren to the these parks in Puerto Vallarta. The lack of shade and a cool drink from one of the local vendors is no longer an attraction. The older people remain in their homes and are now seldom seen on the streets or in the parks of Puerto Vallarta.
But, why talk about the loss of the parks of Puerto Vallarta three years after the last one disappeared? I recall some of the responses often given when we mentioned after 2004 that the parks would become parking structures: "As long as they don't change Parque Lazaro Cardenas, I'm not all that interested in the other parks." And from those in Pitillal: "Pitillal is a long ways from Vallarta, it won't happen here." People were not convinced that the parks would be lost, even as they disappeared one after the other. Why mention this now? Because the next step that will probably be proposed will be a "Macrolibramiento", a highway in the mountains behind Puerto Vallarta. This will ensure the loss of the green mountains above and behind the city.
For many years, the proposals of the municipal governments have been to provide more traffic for the city in the hope that it would promote more business. This is not a valid plan anymore, but the authorities have not had the vision of an alternative plan. Although the professional studies have recommended a more efficient and better planned public transportation system and proposals for more pedestrian, walking and green areas, Puerto Vallarta continues to favor automobile traffic.
When then mayor, Lic. Gustavo Gonzalez Villasenor, proposed the parking structures to replace the parks in 2004 he stated, "Let history judge my decisions." Now that we have the 3rd anniversary on July 28th of the loss of Parque Lazaro Cardenas, is now the time for judgement? Or will the green area above the city become the next victim of an out-of-date idea of "progress" of yet more construction, more deforestation, more traffic and a completely outdated public transportation system.
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