The Empty Park

 In the heart of downtown Mexico City is the Alameda Central, a pleasant shady park filled with monuments and fountains.  It is the oldest public park in the Americas, having been founded in 1592.  It is usually filled with people, and on hot days children are often splashing in the fountains.  This past week however, when I was downtown, I found the park empty.

Two sides of the park were closed off with metal fences tied together.  Policemen and woman stood at intervals to keep anyone from jumping over the fences.

On the opposite side of the park, adjacent to the Palace of Fine Arts and along Juárez Avenue there are ugly, tall metal barricades.

These barricades have been used on many occasions to protect monuments and government buildings whenever there are protest marches.  Protesters have covered them with graffiti and political slogans.

Along busy Juárez Avenue, the barricades scarcely leave room for pedestrians to walk along the street.

 

The Palace of Fine Arts next door is also surrounded with fences.  There are only two spots where you can pass through to go to the Palace.

I could not help but wonder, "Is the government expecting some rampaging crowd of protestors?"  I finally got up the nerve to ask one of the policemen stationed by the fences.  He said that the park was closed for remodeling.  I was skeptical because I didn't see any workers in the park, and, besides, in 2012 - 2013 the park was closed for eight months for restoration.

Back at the apartment, I searched on the computer, and I discovered several articles which said that the Alameda was closed for renovations.  Frankly, other than a few spots where the marble pavement of the walkways need repairs, I did not see anything wrong with the park.  It still looked great after the work done a little more than ten years ago.  However, the article said that over 3000 square feet of pavement will be replaced, tubing (for watering?) will be placed in the flower beds, work will be done on the twelve fountains and the 575 lamps.  No date has been given as to when the park will be reopened, and, given the fact that I saw no work being done, it will probably be a while!