Benito Juárez Park exists thanks to the Chemist and Doctor
Ignacio Hernández Macías, who 100 years ago, was the
political leader of San Miguel de Allende.
In the area of land, which today is known as the park, there were
once many orchards full of fruits and vegetables, which took advantage
of the water that tumbled down from the natural spring, El Chorro.
Dr. Hernández Macías wanted the inhabitants of San
Miguel to have a recreational area that also served as an environmental
escape. So during the years 1895 to 1904 he bought all of the orchards,
one by one, and following the same layout, created the park. It
was extraordinarily beautiful. The trees, picked when planted, would
abound with leaves once mature. In the two original entrances, at
Diez de Sollano and Aldama (before called Calle del Hospital), there
were cedars already formed in cone-shapes and acacias trees. In
the fields there were alcatraz flowers and in the streets within
there were also sculpted “truenos” trees. There were
also two tanks filled with water, in case there wasn’t enough
from the spring. Where the basketball courts presently stand, there
was originally a field filled with sunflowers and in the middle
a great fountain. The rest of the fountains were built low, the
same way they are preserved today, so the reflection of the water
could be seen.
On September 16th of 1904, with just solemnity, the town dedicated
the park to then Governor Joaquín Obregón González,
unveiling two commemorative plaques made of bronze, hung on the
northern portals and lost during the Mexican Revolution.
The third and actual name that the park had was “Benito Juárez”
and it was named so immediately after this former President’s
death in 1917. Many people also called the park the “French
garden” because of its similarity to the gardens of that country.
The field of sunflowers that existed dried because it was not properly
cared for and the fountain disappeared to make room for the construction
of an open-air theater, which was later torn down to make room for
the basketball courts in the mid-1950’s. Since the 1960’s
playground games have been installed and have changed conforming
to the necessities of the population.
Evidently Juárez park is not the same as it was 100 years
ago. It has fallen into neglect, even though there are people that
have dedicated their time to its conservation. There are many complaints
from the citizenry and petitions to improve it. We can still impede
the destruction of more green areas within the park; it is time
to care for and respect it, so that we may continue enjoying this
beautiful park which is found in the heart of the city, and without
doubt, is part of our life in San Miguel. |
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