Minister of Public Works Miguel Vargas said yesterday that construction of sports venues will continue in Mirador del Este Park. In effect, news reports indicate that contracts continued to clear the area for the construction today. Vargas said that former President Joaquin Balaguer who opposes the construction had been misinformed as to what it was all about. Vargas denied that Mejia would meet with Balaguer to discuss the construction controversy. Vargas and Minister of Sports Cesar Cedeño met yesterday with community leaders to explain the project. Facilities for archery (1,400 square meters), handball (5,600 square meters), weight lifting (2,250 square meters), ping pong (4,600 square meters), soccer (1,100 square meters), field hockey (1,550 square meters), tennis (4,495 square meters), artificial lake (2,500 square meters), and an amphitheatre (7,800 square meters) will be built there. It is unclear whether the gymnastics pavilion (11,500 square meters) will also go up there. Advocates of the project say it will improve the area as it calls for RD$20 million investment in park lighting, planting of trees, remodelling of the restaurant and a new train. Likewise, the existing six tennis courts and two basketball courts will be renovated. The project does not have the authorization of the Ministry of Environment. According to Law 64-00, an environmental impact study must be carried out prior to the start of construction. Former director of National Parks, Omar Ramirez, points out that the construction violates this law and that it goes against the original use of the park as a green space for the city of Santo Domingo. Geologist Osiris de Leon says that the construction could also affect the sources of potable water that run under the park. Furthermore, de Leon points out that the promoters of the project are not including in their projections the extensive parking areas that will be needed for visitors. In addition to the Mirador del Este Park, the Organizing Committee for the Pan American Games chose to build new sports venues at the Juan Pablo Duarte Olympic Center, the Mirador del Norte Park (50,000 square meters for the equestrian event) and in Boca Chica.
