Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha

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Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha
La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex
La Guancha.jpg
Paseo Tablado La Guancha, the centerpice of the La Guancha Recreational Complex
Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha
Type Passive park
LocationBario Playa, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates 17°57′55.3674″N66°36′52.128″W / 17.965379833°N 66.61448000°W / 17.965379833; -66.61448000
Areaapprox 20 cuerdas
Created23 June 1998
Operated by Autonomous Municipality of Ponce
StatusOpen every day
ParkingSeveral areas with parking for about 900 vehicles

The Complejo Recreativo y Cultural La Guancha (English: La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Complex) is a recreational complex in barrio Playa in Ponce, Puerto Rico, with family recreational and cultural facilities that opened on 23 June 1998. [1] The highlight of the complex is the Paseo Tablado La Guancha, which is flanked by a beach, an observation tower, an amphitheater, and 24 open-air kiosks. [2] It was developed during the administration of Mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago. [3] In October 2017, after Hurricane Maria, it closed to the public to undergo repairs but, as of January 2020, when the area suffered severe damage due to the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquakes, no repairs had been made and, as of 17 June 2020, it remained closed. [4] By late 2020 arrangements were made for the merchants that operated from waterfront kiosks to reopen their businesses out of provisional facilities at a temporary location away from the waterfront while reconstruction of the waterfront area takes place.

Contents

History

Originally La Guancha consisted of a road and sidewalk alongside a dike built close to the easternmost shore of barrio Playa across from Ponce Yacht Club. The romantic area was frequented by families and sweethearts alike, especially on weekends, for relaxation and bonding. During the administration of Mayor Cordero, however, a number of facilities were added to the La Guancha area at a cost of over $18 million, developing it into a new recreational complex. [5] The new facilities followed the design of engineer Axel Bonilla Cortes. [6]

Facilities

Seven new facilities were added to the existing walkway area: [7]

This project complemented the recently inaugurated tourist pier in the nearby Port of Ponce, and which saw an investment of $4 million. [10]

Funding

The Complex was developed by the Department of Community and Economic Development of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce at a cost of $18.6 million. The breakdown of the cost included $3.6 million in the acquisition of the Paseo Tablado La Guancha, 6.5 million in the purchase of over 27 acres (110,000 m2) of land, $8.0 million in the construction of the project, $0.2 million for the bidding process, and $0.3 million for the upgrade of PR-12 (Avenida Santiago de los Caballeros) as infrastructure leading to the new complex. [11]

External audio
Nuvola apps arts.svg You may see some of La Guancha Recreational and Cultural Center HERE

Effects of the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquake

The complex sustained damage due to the 2020 Puerto Rico earthquake. [12] [13]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Inauguran Complejo de Recreacion La Guancha. El Nuevo Dia. 15 June 1998. [ permanent dead link ] (In Spanish.)
  2. ↑ Mejoras para La Guancha de Ponce. El Sur a la Vista. 3 February 2011. Retrieved 29 March 2011.
  3. ↑ Recuerdan en Ponce al León Mayor. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 19 October 2010. Accessed 13 March 2018.
  4. ↑ Se esfuma la abultada cartera de activos turísticos de la ciudad. Jason Rodriguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 37, Issue 1907. 17 to 23 June 2020. pp. 2-3. Accessed 17 June 2020.
  5. ↑ Inaguran Complejo de Recreacion La Guancha. El Nuevo Dia. 15 June 1998. [ permanent dead link ] (In Spanish.)
  6. ↑ Fundación Puertorriqueña de las Humanidades. Ponce Ciudad Museo 2001. 2001. p. 127.
  7. ↑ Inauguran Complejo de Recreacion La Guancha. El Nuevo Dia. 15 June 1998. [ permanent dead link ] (In Spanish.)
  8. ↑ Meca sureña del sabor y esparcimiento. Arlyn Díaz. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 17 August 2010. Weblink updated 5 July 2019.
  9. ↑ Para junio restauración del Paseo Tablado. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Retrieved 7 March 2012. Weblink updated 5 July 2019.
  10. ↑ Remozan al Sector La Guancha en Ponce. El Nuevo Dia. 30 January 1997. [ permanent dead link ] (In Spanish.)
  11. ↑ Inauguran Complejo de Recreacion La Guancha. El Nuevo Dia. 15 June 1998. [ permanent dead link ] (In Spanish.)
  12. ↑ La Guancha queda inoperable luego de los terremotos. Primera Hora. 8 January 2020. Accessed 10 January 2020.
  13. ↑ Cierre indefinido en La Guancha en Ponce. Michelle Estrada Torres. Voces del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 8 January 2020. Accessed 11 January 2020.

Further reading

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