The mayor of Saint John, Miguel Romero Lugoannounced this Sunday the renovation of the recreational and sports facilities, known as Baldrich Park, in Hato Rey, a project for which $8.5 million was allocated, mostly from municipal funds.
The project – which must be completed between 12 and 14 months – will be divided into four zones, which include tennis courts, the Santiago Iglesias Pantín passive park, an indoor basketball court and the only field hockey field in Puerto Rico.
“Baldrich is a meeting point for thousands of families, athletes and neighbors. Our responsibility is that each person can enjoy decent, accessible facilities on par with a capital city.”said Romero Lugo.
The municipal executive explained that the project had been allocated $1.5 million from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to repair some fences, poles and lights. However, during visits to the facilities – together with the architects in charge of the design, neighbors and users of the park – they identified additional needs, so they decided to hold on to the project until they obtained larger budgets to carry out all the necessary works.
“In that journey, we managed to identify about $6,653,163, which we added to the $1,550,672 (from FEMA), to then make an intervention that is of value, that is of greater intensity, that provokes a single intervention and that we address all the needs”said.
The project also has $136,455 from insurance and $172,296 from the CBDG-DR program for non-federal match.
The renovation has four sections. Zone A is the field hockey field, which has been inoperative since the passing of the Hurricane Maria. On the property, which was used for the 1979 Pan American Games, the synthetic grass, irrigation system, lighting, goal and backboards will be replaced, in compliance with the regulations of the International Hockey Federation.
In this first area, pedestrian access from the park and service will also be built. Likewise, a new building will be built with dressing rooms, bathrooms, lounges, offices, a nursing area and a concessionaire. Zone B includes the passive park and four tennis courts, where sidewalks, fences, retaining walls, installation of benches and lighting system will be repaired.
The passive park will have a landscape renovation, which will include new planting, care and replacement of diseased trees. This part was done in consultation with experts in environmental conservation. “At the end of this project, this park will have about 303 trees. These are additional trees to the current condition,” highlighted the mayor, who hopes to have the park ready by summer.
Meanwhile, zone C includes the remaining tennis courts and the Luis Piñero Club House. The last area, D, includes the complete remodeling of the basketball court.
All zones will have adjustments to comply with city regulations. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA, in English), from the bathrooms to the perimeter sidewalks.
“We are delighted that this could be achieved. It took additional time because we did not just want to invest the $1.5 million, we had to produce the additional $6.6 million that was needed to make the project more complete, more in line with the needs of the community and for the park, in itself, to be so beautiful that it invites citizens to use it,” Romero Lugo stressed.
During the press conference, orders were given for contractors to begin repair and reconstruction work. The design and engineering is carried out by CEMÍ Engineering PSC, the inspection by Entech PR PSC, the construction by IG Builders Corporation and the project management is led by Slocum Ventures LLC.
