Construction begins on new athletic track in Yauco

The new track in Yauco will be named for Nadesha Pacheco López, a young track and field athlete from the southwestern town who died in a road accident in Cayey last year. (Facebook via Atletismo FAPUR)

By THE STAR STAFF

Yauco Mayor Ángel Luis Torres Ortiz announced earlier this week the start of construction on an athletic track with a $9.8 million investment allocated by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

“We are very happy and deeply excited to begin construction on this athletic track that our people have been waiting for for years,” Torres Ortiz said in a written statement.

The project, located near Mario “Ñato” Ramírez Stadium, is divided into three phases. The first phase, costing $3.8 million, includes site preparation and will take about 10 months. The subsequent phases include the construction of the track, bleachers, and improvements to the complex’s infrastructure.

The track will be named after Nadesha Pacheco López, a young track and field athlete from Yauco who died in an accident in Cayey, and will meet specifications approved by the Puerto Rico Athletics Federation.

The old Ovidio Millino track was destroyed after Hurricane Maria, leaving the municipality without sports facilities. The new track is expected to be completed in November 2027.