Central Park Project Not a Priority, says Architect

by Maureen Dietrich

14 Aug 14  

mazmessenger.com

 

Construction plans show five wooden bridges connecting the park to the Malecón and a sixth panoramic bridge.

Since the announcement by Sinaloa Governor Mario López Valdez of a new Central Park Project to be located at the Bosque de la Ciudad connecting with the Malecón, those for and against the ambitious project have been speaking out.

For Guillermo Zercero Velo, director of the Proyecta agency, one of the promoters of the plan, the project will not compete with priority public works nor usurp a portion of the Bosque but rather increase its size by 12 hectares.

He explained that five small islands will be constructed in the laguna for native and migratory birds, new native plants will be introduced, there will be a children’s park made with materials lasting 15 years and assured reporters nothing would be constructed “above” the park.

Construction plans show five wooden bridges connecting the park to the Malecón, a sixth panoramic bridge and a new museum on two hectares.

Total cost of the Central Park project is estimated to be 2,500 million pesos.

However, in the opinion of environmentalists and architects, the project is not a priority.

Henrik Jhonson Gutiérrez Días, member of the Mexican national confederation of architects and former President of the Mazatlán College of Architects, stated that though the Central Park idea is being presented as the most necessary project for the city, if you look at the true necessities the first thing Mazatlán needs is to modernize other aspects, principally drainage and city water. If the park were to be constructed tomorrow, he pointed out, there simply would not be services available to sustain it.

He also criticized the location where structures would be erected beside the Bosque which is a zone where residents suffer floods and sewage overflow year after year.

As well, Gutiérrez Díaz warned that the municipality has to be careful that public funds are not used to benefit private interests and above all that public spaces will not be privatized. 

(from Noroeste)