SANTO DOMINGO.- With an approximate investment of RD$26 million, First Lady Raquel Arbaje; the Minister of Industry, Commerce and MSMEs (MICM), Víctor Bisonó; the Mayor of the National District, Carolina Mejía; and the Executive President of Banco Popular Dominicano, Christopher Paniagua, inaugurated Los Girasoles Park yesterday in the sector of the same name.
Banco Popular Dominicano assumed the cost of this project, which will improve the environment and health of 30,000 people, as well as becoming a space for healthy recreation and socialization.
First Lady Raquel Arbaje stated: “It is truly pleasant and inspiring to close out 2023 by inaugurating this beautiful park where before there was nothing but weeds and neglect. With this inauguration, we have now held seven parks this year, several of them thanks to the ever-generous collaboration of Banco Popular, a company that translates the concept of social responsibility into concrete actions,” Arbaje said during her remarks at the opening ceremony.
Arbaje acknowledged the success of the Recreational Parks: From Industry to Community program, which he has been implementing in conjunction with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs, and thanked Minister Víctor Bisonó for his support of the initiative. He also praised the assistance provided by the National District Mayor's Office and Mayor Carolina Mejía, which has made Los Girasoles Park available for the community's enjoyment.
This is the sixteenth intervention within the program “Recreational Parks: from industry to community”, and the seventh carried out during this year 2023. The total investment amounts to approximately RD$132 million, distributed in the National District and the provinces of Azua, Barahona, Espaillat, Hermanas Mirabal, La Vega, Santiago Rodríguez, Dajabón, Santo Domingo, San Pedro de Macorís and Baní.
The Minister of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM), Víctor Bisonó, stated: “This park will also have a positive impact on the entire community, as it contributes to the natural beauty of the surroundings and provides healthy recreation for families. This is an excellent example of the ‘Recreational Parks: From Industry to the Community’ program, coordinated by the First Lady of the Republic, Mrs. Raquel Arbaje,” he said.
Bisonó added: “Without a doubt, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the impact we have had with this initiative, in which, together with the goodwill of the industry, we bring joy and an opportunity for healthy recreation to families.”.
Mayor Carolina Mejía thanked all the institutions involved in beautifying this space for the well-being of the community. “Gratitude is the memory of the heart, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to begin by saying to Banco Popular once again, thank you, and I will never forget how the institution and you personally have contributed beyond your responsibilities to ensure our Dominicans are well served at your institution and to participate in the positive transformation of their lives.”.
Mejía added: “We will continue working hand in hand with the private sector and the central government. Here we can see all that we can achieve when two or more Dominicans and institutions come together and decide to do wonderful things,” Carolina emphasized.
For his part, Paniagua stated that at Banco Popular, “we are staunch allies of the country and its inhabitants. We support the goal of making our cities more livable environments that benefit our people.”.
“We hope that thousands of residents in the area—children and adults, families, athletes, and passersby—will find inspiration in this space and connect with others at a community level. That is our wish for this renovated recreational area that we are delivering today,” said the CEO of Banco Popular.
About the ceremony
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was led by the First Lady, Minister Bisonó, Mr. Paniagua, and Mayor Mejía. They all joined Mrs. Raquel Arbaje in planting trees in the new park.
Also present at the event were several legislators, community leaders and other community representatives, as well as various executives from Banco Popular.
Details of the work
The project included the construction of the perimeter area, general paving, a basketball court, an outdoor gym, and a children's area accessible to children with disabilities.
An office, landscaping, painting, benches, picnic tables, and the electrical part of the park were also built.
Recreational Parks Program: From Industry to Community
First Lady Raquel Arbaje and the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and MSMEs (MICM) are leading this initiative. Its goal is for manufacturing industries, businesses, and their trade associations to contribute to the construction or renovation of recreational parks in communities near where these organizations operate.
In partnership with Banco Popular, in addition to Los Girasoles Park, the following parks have been renovated: Central Park in Boca Chica; the Municipal Children's Park in La Vega; Ramón Cáceres Park in Moca; and the construction of El Brisal Park in San Pedro de Macorís.
