Coparmex Mazatlán proposes to the Municipality to continue the second phase of Central Park, including the lake, bridges, playgrounds, nurseries, and the museum.
Guillermo Zerecero Velo, National Vice President of the Coparmex Tourism Commission, announced that the project to continue the original Central Park project, which shows signs of deterioration in the lake, playgrounds, and layout, will be supported with investment from citizens and businesses to make it free of charge.
He also applauded Mayor Estrella Palacios Domínguez’s interest in promoting the park’s use as a place for peacebuilding, through recreational, family-friendly, cultural, learning, and sports activities, promoting coexistence and caring for the natural environment.
“We, as citizens and as a business group, are very happy. I think it’s great news that Mayor Estrella Palacios has announced that they will complete the unfinished modules in Central Park so that they can operate as planned, so that there will be workshops for families, children, and young people. It will be a recreational space, a space for family integration, a space for peacebuilding. This was the concept we envisioned since 2013, when we began this project. We’ve been working on this project for 12 years. It’s been a long journey, a significant effort, but it’s been extremely satisfying,” he summarized.
“We’re forming a working group to analyze the actions aimed at completing Central Park and enhancing its use as a place for peacebuilding, through family recreation, cultural, and sports activities.”
However, he also indicated that the park needs resources to operate under transparent management.
“That park, to be fully operational, will require at least 600 or 700 thousand pesos per month. That’s what it takes to operate. It won’t cost the City Council a single peso. We, the private sector, the citizens, will take care of everything, and the park will continue to be free,” he clarified.
Furthermore, Zerecero Velo emphasized that the Municipal Public Services, Jumapam, Implan, Municipal Treasury, and Ecology departments, along with representatives from Canacintra, Canaco, and Coparmex, should participate in these working meetings to brainstorm ideas that will enhance the Central Park project, which is already ready and only requires updating.
The National Vice President of the Coparmex Tourism Commission focused the priorities for what needs to be done in Central Park on 10 points:
- First, the urgent need for a lake management plan to guarantee water quality and the health of the species that live there, beginning with a bathymetry study.
- Create and install islands in the lake to protect native and migratory birds.
- Complete the modules and operate them with educational, training, and recreational programs, designed on a semiannual basis, implemented by specialists, and supervised by park management.
- Install the perimeter fence with two access points to the park.
- Install a wastewater treatment plant to irrigate the park with treated water.
- Equip the children’s play areas according to the project and complete reforestation with plants and trees defined in the park manual.
- Install the dog park, with its regulations and professional operation.
- Build two pedestrian bridges over the lake to connect Quirino Ordaz Avenue with the park.
- Create a board of trustees for the park’s operations, comprised of municipal officials and representatives of civic organizations, to oversee its operation and generate the total funding for its operation while maintaining free access.
- Update the completed executive project and develop a fundraising strategy to build and operate the City Museum, owned by the Municipality, in Central Park.
Zerecero Velo highlighted the hard work of the United for Mazatlán Trust, formed by 10 business leaders and citizens, as well as Ernesto Coppel and the State Government. During Quirino Ordaz’s administration, the Trust provided 511 million pesos to build the entire infrastructure of Central Park, although some modules were not completed in time, he said.
He commented that on August 1, along with Ernesto Coppel, Rafael Lizárraga, and Simón Norris of the Gran Acuario Mazatlan, he held a meeting with the federal Ministry of Tourism in Mexico to request support for the completion of Central Park, among other projects that would benefit Mazatlan.
“We discussed specific issues regarding Central Park and told them what we still needed to complete, and that we were seeking funding for the museum, and the Ministry told us there were opportunities. In fact, we asked them for support for the wastewater treatment plant that Central Park needed, and I believe we can secure funding, not from the Ministry, but through other ministries,” he stated.
They also mentioned the construction of two bridges connecting to Central Park, already included in the project.
“We talked to them about the pedestrian bridges and the museum. They told us they’re going to propose this through Fonatur, and they have some funding, and the best part is that it depends on the federal Ministry of Tourism,” he added.
Zerecero Velo added that they have already sent the projects, videos, and requested information, and that they just have to wait for news from Fonatur.
“The good news for us is that the stars are starting to align, because the federal Ministry of Tourism tells us there are possibilities that they can help us, and the Mayor tells us that she wants to finish the park.”
He commented that they hope to meet again with Mayor Estrella Palacios next week.
Source: noroeste
