When months ago the idea of transforming Ballenita Park, a space that had been abandoned for nearly 30 years, into a place of recreation and healthy family and community gathering, arose in Carolina Bermeo's mind, the road seemed uphill.
Carolina, a Colombian with Ecuadorian children who live in Ballenita, found in Tatis Del Pezo the “ideal ally and support” to make this dream come true. Both mothers whose children are at the right age when children enjoy a playground the most, knew that it was time to take the necessary actions to give their children and the community where they live this space that is so necessary for the children of Ballenita.
The Sta. Marianita de Jesús park was in a state of deep neglect by the previous and current municipal authorities; therefore, the first action was to organize the Pro-improvements committee which would represent the ideals to be achieved.
Ideas to achieve this began to appear after these two entrepreneurs spread their collaborative and community spirit to other people, who gradually joined this dream.
It was thus that from mid-June we began to see different human teams in succession, each one fulfilling a specific mission, carrying out work in the park; which led today to the announcement of the long-awaited reopening and delivery to the community, which will take place this Friday, October 5th starting at 3 p.m.
A large number of people in the community, students from the "Carrera Sánchez Bruno" school, temporary visitors, and of course institutions (have joined forces so that Ballenita, the first beach resort in Santa Elena, can once again hear its children in a park in their own community.
During these 4 months of work we have achieved:
- Comprehensive weed clearing and tree pruning,
- Painting and murals on the outside and inside of the park (with the support of artists such as Otro Lado del Arte, Vane Coco, Xavier Blum, Artycultura and Lili GM),
- Repair of planters,
- Acquisition and installation of various children's games; and,
- Signaling and planning for the classified disposal of solid waste.
Between “I told you” and “who said I said” the offer of municipal help is diluted.
While it is true that parks and their maintenance are the responsibility of municipal governments, Ballenita Park is an example of the lack of interest of past and present administrations.
According to Carolina Bermeo, when Mayor Otto Vera P. learned of the work being done, he offered to support the construction of the walkways and a pergola (roundabout); however, after bureaucratic procedures and several visits to the municipal house of Sta. Elena, he received the repeated and lapidary response "there is no budget for that."
According to unofficial sources, a little over a month ago the mayor had expressed his displeasure at the response given by his subordinates to the park managers, however little or nothing has been done to fulfil the mayor's promise. "The spaces for the work offered by the mayor are there" says Bermeo, somewhat annoyed.
However, a smile appears on his face again when he reviews the activities that will take place this Friday to mark the reopening.
Ballenita Park is now a reality, an example of effective community action.
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