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Parque Familiar Julio Enrique Monagas (English: Julio Enrique Monagas Family Park) is Puerto Rico's largest passive park. It is located in barrio Bucaná, Ponce, Puerto Rico, on the banks of the Bucaná and Portugués rivers. The park was named after Julio Enrique Monagas, "the father of Puerto Rican Olympic sports". In November 2017, the park was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria and, as of today (January 2021), remains closed.

Location

The park is located in barrio Bucana, at the merging of Rio Portugues and Rio Bucana, off PR-2 (Ponce By-pass). The park was built at a cost of over $3 million.

History

The park was created under the administration of Ponce mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago. It initially consisted of 80 acres (320,000 m) of land and lakes. It was subsequently expanded to 125 acres (0.51 km). It opened in 1994 under the administration of mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago and was considerably enlarged in October 2008 under the administration of mayor Francisco Zayas Seijo. It was built during the administration of Mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago. At the moment of its inauguration in 1994, it was the largest passive park in the Caribbean.

The park was severely damaged by Hurricane Maria in September 2017 and, as of November 2019, remained closed. In April 2019 the USACE removed debris and, upon completion, the Government of the Municipality of Ponce proceeded to perform cleanup activities. In late September 2019, mayor Mayita announced the allocation of $3.9 USD million for the reconstruction of the park. The funds, however, were to be shared with reconstruction of Teatro La Perla, Complejo Recreativo de La Guancha, Centro Ceremonial Indígena de Tibes, Plaza del Mercado Isabel II, and Complejo Acuático Víctor Vasallo.

Amenities

The family-oriented park had paddle boats, picnic areas with gazebos, exotic birds, skate park and various playgrounds for children and a Ridable miniature railway.

References

1. Deterioro se apodera del parque Monagas. Eduardo. L. Questell Rodriguez. Es Noticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 26 de abril al 9 de mayo de 2019. p. 14. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
2. ^ Parque Julio Enrique Monagas. Archived 2014-02-17 at archive.today Retrieved 15 February 2014.
3. De sueño a pesadilla: la atroz realidad del Parque Julio Monagas: El huracán María solo se topó con una instalación que ya llevaba meses en deterioro, con trenes averiados, botes recreativos fuera de servicio y uno de los parques acuáticos clausurados. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. 27 January 2021. Accessed 27 January 2021. (Printed version: Year 38. Issue 1939. 27 January to 2 February 2021. p.2. )
4. Entretenimiento de primera a un precio económico. Carmen Sila Rodriguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 24 June 2009. Page 27.
5. ^ Largest Family Park to Open in Ponce, Puerto Rico. Let's Go to Ponce: Insider's Guide to South Puerto Rico. Retrieved 30 November 2009. Archived 23 April 2009 at the Wayback Machine
6. ^ Recuerdan en Ponce al León Mayor. Periodico La Perla del Sur.
7. Sports / Monagas, Julio Enrique. Archived 2010-11-22 at the Wayback Machine Encyclopedia Puerto Rico. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
8. Julio Enrique Monages Park, Modern Technology Construction Corporation. Archived 2009-08-28 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved 30 November 2009.
9. “Tirado a pérdida” el Parque Julio Enrique Monagas de Ponce. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. 25 April 2018. Accessed 1 August 2020.
10. Puerto Rico - Usace concluye trabajos de remoción de escombros en el parque Julio Monagas. 25 April 2019.
11. Comunidades quedan fuera del “inicio de la reconstrucción” de Ponce: Al ser abordada sobre la ausencia de proyectos que beneficien directamente a comunidades rurales y pobres de la zona norte de la ciudad, Meléndez Altieri insistió que varios han sido sometidos a consideración de agencias federales, pero aún esperan por respuesta. Ponce, Puerto Rico: La Perla del Sur. 2–8 October 2019. Year 36. Issue 1870. Pages 6-7. Accessed 21 November 2019.
12. Parque Julio Enrique Monagas. Travel & Sport: Puerto Rico Retrieved 30 November 2009.

• Urban public parks
• Parks in Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Tourist attractions in Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Protected areas established in 1994
• 1994 establishments in Puerto Rico
• Barrio Bucaná