The Leader | Río Maipo Park inaugurated a new section of walkways

Last Friday, a new 250-meter stretch of walkway was inaugurated in the Maipo River Wetland Park. This is the Estuary Walkway, which completes nearly a kilometer of infrastructure that will improve the experience of visitors to the park, especially seniors and families with young children.

The event was attended by representatives from the Santo Domingo Municipality and its City Council, the Cosmos Foundation, and residents of the commune. They inaugurated the new section connecting the Siete Colores and Zarapito viewpoints, and then toured the complete circuit that allows visitors to access the area from the administration area to Marbella Beach.

The walkways were financed with funds from the Urban Improvement and Community Equipment Program (PMU) of the Undersecretariat of Regional and Administrative Development (Subdere) and contributions from the Municipality of Santo Domingo.

This project is part of the work the Cosmos Foundation has been developing in the park to sustainably connect local communities and tourists with nature and ecosystems as important as wetlands.

Dino Lotito, Mayor of Santo Domingo, emphasized that “since this administration, we have taken great strides to fund and promote environmental conservation policies throughout the community, with an emphasis on training in schools for waste management and recycling, in addition to creating inclusive spaces for our neighbors. This is reflected in the inauguration of this new walkway, which also protects biological corridors in the wetland.”

For his part, Diego Urrejola, executive director of the Cosmos Foundation, commented that “as stewards of this important ecosystem, we have strengthened the bond between the community and nature by building infrastructure such as viewpoints, trails, and plazas, which serve as platforms connecting people with the wetland. Without a doubt, this project will allow all those who live in the province of San Antonio and those who visit us to learn about and appreciate this natural heritage, with access and walkways open year-round, making it easier for families and seniors to travel.”

The installation of these walkways will better preserve the area’s biodiversity, as their elevated location will prevent people from directly disturbing the flora, fauna, and fungi, thus avoiding potential fragmentation of the park’s ecosystem. Furthermore, the Cosmos Foundation reported that a modular construction method was developed for the installation of these walkways, with all structural work carried out outside the park to minimize impact.