

Organizers of Gran Parque la Plancha, a proposed Central Park-type green space near downtown Merida, have accused Yucatan state officials and federal agencies of giving the ambitious project a “cold shoulder” treatment that could thwart hopes for creating the park.
At a press conference Thursday June 29 in the La Plancha neighborhood east of downtown, park organizers demanded that federal and state officials concur in the master plan for the complete green space contemplated at 24 hectares.
Arturo Novelo, a lawyer and director of the citizens group promoting Gran Parque La Plancha, said Yucatan state government has formulated its own plan for a much smaller park.
The state’s plan would utilize only four hectares of the former La Plancha railway station, staging yards and train-repair facilities that are contemplated for the park, Novelo said.
“We insist that society requires a park of 24 hectares and demand that state government program a public presentation of this plan, putting aside any other plan relating to the sale of a portion of these lands,” Novelo said at the press conference attended by about 30 local media and conducted in Spanish.
In response to reporters’ questions, Felix Rubio, president of the La Plancha citizens group, said no portion of the public lands should be sold for development of hotels, shopping centers or other commercial purposes.
“This land belongs to the people of Merida,” said Rubio.

(PHOTO: Robert Adams)
Luis Romahn, Merida director of Parques de Mexico, another organization lobbying for the park, said realizing the Gran Parque la Plancha dream will take at least several years and require an as-yet undetermined amount of funds, which he said could come from federal, state and local governments as well as private sources.
At the media gathering, organizers distributed copies of the park master plan completed last January. The 205-page document was prepared by experts at Mexico’s Autonomous National University (UNAM), the Autonomous University of Yucatan (UADY) and other specialists.
State officials have kept the plan under wraps, Novelo and Rubio charged, to keep the public in the dark about the proposed park’s full potential.
Rubio said the La Plancha group plans to hold another set of public tours of the proposed park site in the next few months to again draw local citizens’ attention to the great potential the project holds for improving Merida’s environment. The first round of tours held last March attracted several hundred visitors, including many expats.
By Robert Adams for TYT
robert@theyucatantimes.com
Comments
more recommended stories
Yucatan registers over 60 infections by Covid in 24 hours
On May 19th, the administration of.
“Live without Drugs” campaign connects with Yucatecan students
The Segey and Fundación Azteca convene.
On Thursday, May 19th, the Mérida Airport registered a total of 54 flights, all on schedule
On Thursday, May 19th, three flights.
Mérida joins the national mourning day for victims of femicide in Mexico
On Wednesday, May 18th at 6:00.
Vila Dosal promotes investments in clean energy for Yucatan
During the last day of his.
Driving under the influence, the mayor of Kinchil is involved in a traffic accident
In an embarrassing situation, the mayor.
3-year-old boy dies at La Raza IMSS hospital in Mexico City apparently due to a suspected case of acute hepatitis
The Hidalgo Health Secretariat confirmed that.
Police arrested two subjects in possession of large quantities of different drugs in Tulum, Quintana Roo
Security forces of the three levels.
Campeche Ministry of Health welcomes Cuban doctors brought by the AMLO administration
Campeche would be benefited from the.
Mauricio Vila signs an agreement with the Confederation of Cataluña
The Governor of Yucatan, Mauricio Vila.
Leave a Comment