ENLACE Landscape Architecture
In collaboration with the community organization of Caño Martín Peña (G-8), Marvel was hired by ‘Corporación del Proyecto ENLACE del Caño Martin Peña’ (ENLACE) to provide professional services in the planning, programming, and design of new community parks on multiple vacant lots within the maritime zone of the Martín Peña Canal and scattered throughout its 8 adjacent communities.
The first phase of the project included a detailed study of the Martín Peña Canal landscape and of more than 20 lots for potential inclusion in the public space program. Ten locations for new parks were finally selected, with each of the 8 communities having at least one new public space. Each of the proposed 10 new parks underwent a comprehensive planning and programming phase with intense participation of the neighboring community. The final program for each new park reflects community needs and preferences, along with the design principles established for all of the new parks in the master planning phase of the project.
The main entrance to the proposed community park in Buena Vista-Santurce.
The community of Buena Vista-Santurce envisioned a park where they could gather for their annual fair and for community holiday parties. The new park will provide sheltered spaces joined by a vegetated pergola that also serves as its main welcoming space.
The proposal for a new community park in Buena Vista-Santurce.
The proposed community park in Buena Vista-Santurce includes flexible sheltered space for family or community gatherings, outdoor exercise equipment, a large lawn for community fairs, and a ring of rain gardens to manage stormwater. The selected vegetation palette is intended to begin a slow process of ecological restoration along the Martín Peña Canal.
Aerial view of the proposal for the new Israel-Bitumul community
Israel-Bitumul is one of the eight communities along the Martín Peña Canal in San Juan, Puerto Rico. The new park will provide gathering spaces and outdoor exercise equipment for the community. Vegetation was selected to kick-start the ecological restoration of the Canal maritime zone, originally a mangrove-lined natural channel connecting the main water bodies of the San Juan Bay National Estuary.
Original sketch for the conceptualization of the new parks along Caño Martín Peña.
The Martín Peña Canal, although sometimes viewed as an obstacle, is envisioned as the quintessential element of this urban landscape that has enormous potential as connector in the Greater San Juan Metropolitan Area.
The main walk along the proposed new park for Israel-Bitumul.
The proposal for a new park in the Israel-Bitumul community includes a central walk that will connect existing and future community amenities. The park also includes rain gardens to manage stormwater.
The main walk along the proposed Israel-Bitumul community park.
The proposed community park at Israel-Bitumul includes seating and community gathering spaces, as well as outdoor exercise equipment. The main walk is flanked by rain gardens to manage the abundant stormwater.
Each of the proposed 10 new parks underwent a comprehensive planning and programming phase with intense participation of the neighboring community. The final program for each new park reflects community needs and preferences, along with the design principles established for all of the new parks in the master planning phase of the project.
- Location
- San Juan, Puerto Rico
- Client
- Estrella Santiago, Gerente de asuntos ambientales, Corporacion del Proyecto ENLACE Caño Martin Peña
- Typology
- Public
- Size
- 10 Small Parks SF
- Design Team
- Jose Juan Terrasa, Yanick Lay, Nicole Rivera
- Consultants
- N/A
- Rendering Credits
- MARVEL
