Yenia Silva Correa
Anabel Díaz Mena (photos)

Keeping the River Almendares clean is the objective of one of Havana’s most important ecological projects: The Great Metropolitan Park of Havana (GPMH), an ambitious environmental initiative, which has achieved important results over 25 years.

Recovery of traditional games and neighborhoods is of vital
importance to the GPMH.

This urban, ecological park spans four municipalities, with the Almendares River as a point in common. Unlike other parks, the 700 hectare area includes industries, schools and the community. Four recreation complexes: Almendares Park with its Havana Forest, Forest Park, Tropical Gardens and Polar Gardens are found within the area.

These areas were built at different times near the river. Over the years some fell into considerable disrepair and the river water became highly contaminated, but thanks to the creation of GPMH in 1989, the buildings were restored and today the river is in better condition.

Mercedes Arango Hernández, deputy director of Culture and Recreation of the Great Metropolitan Park of Havana, explained some of the characteristics of the institution.

Recreational options for children are here to stay.

We form part of the city’s green belt. We are not the only ecological project, there is also the National Botanical Gardens, National Aquarium, Morro Park, Cabaña, Havana Bay and Lenin Park, but we are the green lung of the city. To carry out our work we have the help of the National Institute of Hydraulic Resources and the Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment, as well as NGOs which collaborate in cleaning the river.

Among our most important activities are restoring the health of the river, treating plants affected by contaminated water and reforestation of bamboo. This plant is being used to reforest a large part of the city. It is a novelty and the Metropolitan Park has a legacy of having large areas of bamboo throughout the zone.

The City Nature excursion includes four GPMH complexes.

We organize community tours though the Culture and Recreation department, to bring environmental messages about how to live in harmony with a park. In the Havana neighborhood of Pogolotti there is no better example than the Sacred Forest, created by the people of the neighborhood. The area was a dump site and the community raised a forest which has received national recognition. This is one of the Park’s achievements.

These trips are called City Nature and give participants the opportunity to get to know our facilities. They have four stops: the first Almendares Park; the second Havana Forest, to learn about the area’s origin, the settlements that existed in the zone and the various names given to the river at different times.

The third stop is the Tropical Gardens with its art center and galleries; and the fourth Forest Park, where they are shown the layout of the park and communications stand.

From there we continue to another of the great parks. Currently we visit the National Botanical Gardens. There, participants tour the area with specialist guides who explain the flora, fauna and different areas of the gardens, ending with lunch. This option is available throughout the year.

We feel satisfied to have organized a group of important activities which are here to stay, such as the inauguration of every summer, and Children’s Day which is always a huge celebration.

We are also proud to have been able, over so many years, to integrate the work and clean up some of the centers which were deteriorating and with the arrival of the GPMH were able to be fully restored and used by the population.

Today we are working so that this continues to be maintained.

Our main focus is to take care of cleaning up the Almendares River, this is our greatest commitment.