Cayey’s Great Urban Park proposal seeks to reconnect people with nature.

“We recognize the park’s potential as a tool for environmental resilience, where community and intergenerational well-being are combined with inclusive economic development,” Cayey Mayor Rolando Ortiz Velázquez, right, said of the plan for a Great Urban Park in the municipality’s urban center.

By THE STAR STAFF

The proposed Great Urban Park, planned by the Cayey municipal administration for the urban area adjacent to the Ramón Frade León public square, offers several advantages, proponents say, including the protection of the aquifer in the surrounding mountains, among which is the famous Cerro Torito.

Cayey Mayor Rolando Ortiz Velázquez said “this urban park concept is unique in Puerto Rico because it flows along the river, aiming to restore vibrant ecosystems and celebrate the centuries-old cultural heritage of our city of Cayey and its 22 neighborhoods.”

The concept also aims to create inclusive spaces for gathering, playing, learning and generating local economic opportunities, while becoming a local and regional destination for community, tourism and cultural connection. The initiative is guided by a commitment to the conservation of natural resources and the sustainable development of the river corridor in Cayey.

“We recognize the park’s potential as a tool for environmental resilience, where community and intergenerational well-being are combined with inclusive economic development,” the mayor said. “We already see this in the extensive ecosystem of shops, restaurants, and kiosks in the city center. The concept is organized around four key public policy themes: Environment, Economy, Community Participation, and Aesthetics, where best practices in urban design, ecological restoration, and participatory planning are applied.”

The river corridor in downtown Cayey is part of a larger hydrological system that connects the upland forests with the downland communities, highlighting the park’s role in stormwater management, erosion control and biodiversity corridors. The Great Urban Park plan offers an opportunity to reconnect fragmented pedestrian and ecological networks, linking schools, homes, plazas, and civic spaces through green infrastructure.

“Another advantage of our Great Urban Park is its inclusivity, safety, and broad accessibility, as it is conceived and designed for universal access,” Ortiz Velázquez said. “Involving Cayey residents and students who participate in the Urban Planning Competition that the Municipality organizes every year guarantees citizen participation, reflecting the needs and values ​​of Cayey residents. This initiative is a great community endeavor for the present and future of our people.”

Another avenue of solutions generated by the planned park is related to climate resilience. The river and surrounding ecosystems are not just elements of the natural environment, the mayor noted, they are vital to Cayey’s identity, climate resilience, and future as a “Green City.”

“Restoring the river, protecting green infrastructure, and educating about sustainable practices can help us reduce flooding, purify water, and cool the city during extreme heat waves,” Ortiz Velázquez said. “Preserving native biodiversity and continuing to generate information about the value of ecology is a shared responsibility for all of us in Cayey.”