Pedro Albizu Campos Park
Encyclopedia
The Parque Pedro Albizu Campos (English: Pedro Albizu Campos Park) is a passive recreational park
in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico
. It was dedicated on September 12, 1991, to the memory of Puerto Rican
Nationalist leader Pedro Albizu Campos
by the Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos was born in Ponce on September 12, 1891. He was raised in Ponce and lived most of his life there as well.
lot bordered by Rio Bucana
on the east end, Puerto Rico route PR-1
on the south, Pedregal Street on the north, and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos street on the west. It is near the intersection of Ponce By-pass Road (PR-2
), Miguel Pou Boulevard (PR-1
), and Comercio Street (PR-133). The park is found at N 18.00999 W 66.59377 (18.00999, -66.59377).
There is a full-body statue
of Dr. Albizu Campos as the centerpiece of the park. The park is located in sector Tenerias of Barrio Machuelo Abajo
where Albizu Campos was born and spent his youth.
. In addition to the name the survivor, the person's date of death is also engraved on each stone. Also engraved are a Christian cross
and the letters "RIP
" (Rest in Peace).
The names and dates on some of the stones have faded away due to exposure to the weather elements. The names and dates on the twelve stones are as follows:
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. It was dedicated on September 12, 1991, to the memory of Puerto Rican
Puerto Rican people
A Puerto Rican is a person who was born in Puerto Rico.Puerto Ricans born and raised in the continental United States are also sometimes referred to as Puerto Ricans, although they were not born in Puerto Rico...
Nationalist leader Pedro Albizu Campos
Pedro Albizu Campos
Don Pedro Albizu Campos was a Puerto Rican politician and one of the leading figures in the Puerto Rican independence movement. He was the leader and president of the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party from 1930 until his death...
by the Government of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos was born in Ponce on September 12, 1891. He was raised in Ponce and lived most of his life there as well.
Location
The park sits on a 5-acreAcre
The acre is a unit of area in a number of different systems, including the imperial and U.S. customary systems. The most commonly used acres today are the international acre and, in the United States, the survey acre. The most common use of the acre is to measure tracts of land.The acre is related...
lot bordered by Rio Bucana
Río Bucaná
Río Bucaná, is a river in the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Rio Bucana has its origin in barrio Machuelo Arriba where it forms at an altitude of . It forms from the confluence of Rio Cerrillos and Rio Bayagan. It is also fed by Rio Portugues during its southernly run. Rio Bucana used to run...
on the east end, Puerto Rico route PR-1
Puerto Rico Highway 1
Puerto Rico Highway 1 connects the city of Ponce to San Juan. Leaving Ponce, the road follows somewhat parallel along the southern coast of the island and, at Salinas, it turns north to cut through the Cordillera Central in its approach to San Juan....
on the south, Pedregal Street on the north, and Dr. Pedro Albizu Campos street on the west. It is near the intersection of Ponce By-pass Road (PR-2
Puerto Rico Highway 2
Puerto Rico Highway 2, the longest highway in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico at about 156 miles long, connects San Juan to Ponce....
), Miguel Pou Boulevard (PR-1
Puerto Rico Highway 1
Puerto Rico Highway 1 connects the city of Ponce to San Juan. Leaving Ponce, the road follows somewhat parallel along the southern coast of the island and, at Salinas, it turns north to cut through the Cordillera Central in its approach to San Juan....
), and Comercio Street (PR-133). The park is found at N 18.00999 W 66.59377 (18.00999, -66.59377).
There is a full-body statue
Statue
A statue is a sculpture in the round representing a person or persons, an animal, an idea or an event, normally full-length, as opposed to a bust, and at least close to life-size, or larger...
of Dr. Albizu Campos as the centerpiece of the park. The park is located in sector Tenerias of Barrio Machuelo Abajo
Machuelo Abajo
Machuelo Abajo is one of the 31 barrios of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Along with Canas Urbano, Magueyes Urbano, Portugués Urbano, and San Antón, Machuelo Abajo is one of the municipality's five originally rural barrios that are now also part of the urban zone of the city of...
where Albizu Campos was born and spent his youth.
Use
Though a general use passive park, the park is also home to various civic and political activities relating to the ideals of autonomy, self-government and independence for Puerto Rico.Stones
Among the features of the park is a set of twelve stones set on the ground in a two-by-six vertical formation. The stones contain the names of the last twelve known survivors of the 1937 Ponce massacrePonce massacre
The Ponce massacre occurred on 21 March 1937 when a peaceful march in Ponce, Puerto Rico, by the Puerto Rican Nationalist Party commemorating the ending of slavery in Puerto Rico by the governing Spanish National Assembly in 1873, and coinciding with a protest against the incarceration by the...
. In addition to the name the survivor, the person's date of death is also engraved on each stone. Also engraved are a Christian cross
Christian cross
The Christian cross, seen as a representation of the instrument of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, is the best-known religious symbol of Christianity...
and the letters "RIP
Rest in peace
"Rest in peace" is a short epitaph or idiomatic expression wishing eternal rest and peace to someone who has died. The expression typically appears on headstones, often abbreviated as "RIP"...
" (Rest in Peace).
The names and dates on some of the stones have faded away due to exposure to the weather elements. The names and dates on the twelve stones are as follows:
- Rafael Soto Moreno, 21-6-74
- Samuel Aponte Morales, 23-10-(77?)
- Pedro L. del Valle Almodovar, (3?)-Nov-80
- America Rivera Jimenez, 26-2-92
- Jovita Nieves, 4-11-72
- Andres Santiago, 27-7-91
- (undecipherable) Irizarry, 1-6-93
- (undecipherable) Santiago, 2-5-93
- Juanita Vega, Feb-9-74
- Jovita Santiago Santiago, Dic-4-78
- Antonia Rodriguez Torres, Dic-2-79
- Nelson Cedeño Ramos, 25-10-82