Parque De Las Palomas

OLD SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Pigeon Park (Parque De Las Palomas) is a place close to home for the residents of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Destined as a popular tourist attraction, the park used to host consistent visitors and residents from Old San Juan. Built in the 18^th century and nestled on top of a city wall that once surrounded Viejo San Juan, the park’s heart-felt history has much more to it than simply providing a home for hundreds of pigeons (palomas).

Upon entering the park, you are met with a sign of dedication to Dona Felisa Rincon De Gautier, the first female mayor of San Juan from 1946 to 1968. She was known and praised for her contributions to women’s rights, being an honest administrator and transcending the limits of Puerto Rico borders. Above all, her love and dedication to children shone through most.

“Not having children of her own, she regarded the children of San Juan as her own,” said the sign. “She took good care of their health, education, well-being and even gave them the experience of playing with snow by transporting some to San Juan by plane during Christmas time.”

Dedicated to the love she showed children in need, the park is lined with bronze shoe statues representing the shoes she provided for those children and the care she offered them.

Despite the park’s history of love and honor, Pigeon Park has remained mostly closed for the past seven and a half years. Walking up to the park today, you are faced with a large, locked gate, permitting anyone to enter.

Married couple Yashrra Aponte and Raimier Quintama are two residents born and raised in Puerto Rico. For those past seven and a half years, they both have been tirelessly working to open the park back up to the public, however this time dedicating it to the children.

“This was created for the residents of Old San Juan,” said Quintama. “But it is a kids park more than just Pigeon Park.”

The park was set to be remodeled in 2015 and remained closed until 2017 when Hurricane Maria hit the island and damaged the park even further. A large tree branch sits half-buried in the park’s grassy yard from Maria. The park reopened for a few months after the 2017 hurricane, but it quickly closed down again and has not reopened since.

“I was fighting to open this place for about seven and a half years,” said Aponte. “We had to go to the government, we had an auction, we presented a business plan and at the end we won the auction.”

Aponte and her husband are now finally in the works of reopening the park. “It’s amazing,” said Quintama. “Now we’re here and we are just putting all the effort into it we can to make it look good and provide what we have in mind.”

The love and commitment they have for the park comes from a lifetime of memories that many people of San Juan share with the historical Pigeon Park. Quintama has a picture with his grandmother and mom right in front of the entrance when he was only three years old.

“I believe that maybe 90% of Puerto Ricans that have come to Old San Juan have gone through Pigeon Park at least once in their life,” said Quintama. “All Puerto Ricans have a memory of this park.”

Inspiration from the residents of Puerto Rico and being able to bring those memories back to them is part of what pushed Quintama and Aponte to take a stand for the closed down park. However, Aponte’s admiration for Dona Felisa Rincon De Gautier played an equal role.

“She didn’t have any kids of her own, but she still created a space for kids in general,” said Quintama.

Aponte and Quintama are now determined to take care of the park and bring it back to life the way it was meant to be. They want to honor the fact that it was meant to be a place for children, tourists and residents, but especially honor the children through their recreation.

The newest creation the couple is implementing inside of the park is one of the first coffee shops for kids. The shop will be named Café De Nino, meaning coffee for children. Along with that they are following down the line of what Dona Felisa stood for by adding art, music, education, talent shows and activities for children coming to the park.

The couple emphasized that Old San Juan is filled with tourism destinations like bars, shops and coffee, but what is left for the children to do? Especially those who need that entertainment to keep them busy and off of the streets. By adding these activities, they hope to make that change and offer a place for children to come to and learn while they are having fun.

The coffee shop will be open during both the week and the weekends, however the activities will be provided on the weekends only. During the weekends they plan to have tables with arts and crafts activities, a small stage where people will give music and art classes, teachers will come in to promote themselves and the education they offer by giving classes and activities to children and of course there is also the Café De Nino.

Older adults will still have a place to make memories and relax, especially during the week. The park offers a breathtaking view of the Bay of San Juan.

The couple has plans to reopen the public park by May 22. They are working hard replanting flowers, building gardens, hiring and training employees and creating their vision they have been working long and hard to accomplish.

“We’re bringing something for the kids,” said Quintama. “Or come as an adult and relive your childhood.”