Speaking at a press conference, the Mayor of the National District, Roberto Salcedo announced that the third celebration of Easter Week in Guibia Park will start on Thursday, 17 April at 9am. The city government is recreating the water play area at the Guibia Park, at a cost of RD$8.6 million, as reported in Diario Libre. The water play area will be open from 9am to 6pm through Sunday, 20 April.
George Washington Avenue (Malecon) will be closed from Wednesday, 16 April at 3 pm between Socorro Sanchez Street, going from east to west up to San Geronimo Street from west to east for preparations.
At Guibia Park there will be 12 swimming pools, inflatable games, karaoke, concerts, volleyball tournaments, domino game tables and children’s games amongst other activities.
Salcedo said that 1,200 cubic meters of sand will be brought in to recreate a beach environment. The city government expects the crowds to exceed the 446,000 visitors, more than last year.
To guarantee the public’s safety, there would be five ambulances and around 250 police officers, from the National Police, Municipal Police, Metropolitan Transport Authority (AMET), Tourist Police and the National Drug Control Agency (DNCD) patrolling throughout the holiday.
Salcedo also emphasized that the filling of the 12 swimming pools would not further worsen the city’s current water crisis and that there would be an adequate supply of water distributed to homes throughout the capital. He wryly noted that the city’s poor chronically endure water shortages, but all the hotels in the area had full swimming pools. He estimated there were more than 50,000 Jacuzzis in operation in Santo Domingo and no one moans about this situation.
He assured that the water for the pools would come from underground wells located between the City Hall and the Santo Domingo Fire Station.
http://www.listindiario.com/la-republica/2014/4/14/318315/La-tercera-version-de-Semana-Santa-en-Guibia-2014-costara-cinco-millones