Escambron Unido denounces privatization of Tercer Milenio Park

Escambrón Unido denounced the San Juan Municipality’s plan, under Ordinance 50, to add 950 parking spaces at Escambrón Park. The group’s spokeswoman, Gradissa Fernández, and Rei Segurola, joined by a large group of demonstrators, voiced their strong opposition to the proposal.

By THE STAR STAFF

Escambrón Unido is denouncing what it describes as a deliberate move by the Municipality of San Juan to privatize portions of the Tercer Milenio Park, a coastal public space long defended by community groups and environmental advocates. 

The organization argues that recent municipal actions signal an effort to transfer public land into private hands through construction projects and long‑term agreements tied to the redevelopment of the historic Normandie Hotel.

According to the group, the municipality is advancing an ordinance that would allow a private company, Smart Parking System to build and operate a 950‑space parking structure inside the park for a period of 90 years. Community members and municipal legislators have raised concerns that the measure bypasses a transparent public process and may rely on land whose legal status within the national parks system has not been fully clarified. They warn that the project would alter the character of the area, increase traffic congestion, and reduce the amount of accessible green space along the Escambrón shoreline.

Escambrón Unido also points to a separate agreement between the city and the developers of the Normandie Hotel that would grant the hotel access to park land for an expansion that includes parking, luxury apartments, a private events pavilion, and new recreational facilities. The group argues that the plan encroaches on the legally protected maritime‑terrestrial zone and would convert public recreational areas into private commercial uses for decades.

Members of the collective say these projects represent a pattern of decisions that prioritize private development over public interest. They emphasize that the park is a vital coastal resource used daily by residents, athletes, families, and visitors, and that any changes to its footprint should undergo rigorous environmental review and community participation.