A total of 425 ?tareas?, equivalent to 27 hectares or 70 acres, have been converted into the Coffee Ecological Park by the Santiago Development Association and the Coffee Council in La Cumbre, on the Luperon Tourist Highway between Santiago and Puerto Plata. The idea for the park began in 1997 as part of an inter-institutional collaboration between the Association, the Ministry of Agriculture and the former Coffee Commission, now known as CODOCAFE. The area is part of one of former dictator Rafael Trujillo?s mansions. Also helping with the project were the Kellogg Foundation, the Peace Corps and the Corporation of Free Zones, who contributed money and designs for the park.
APEDI president Felix Garcia called the project ?part of the Association?s effort to develop and preserve the region?s natural resources by means of an ecological park.? The association is also supporting the conversion of 50 hectares formerly of the Santiago Airport into the city?s Metropolitan Park.
Referring to the Coffee Park, Garcia pointed out that it took RD$8 million to provide areas for parking, gift shops and craft workshops, as well as an administrative office and cafeteria.
The park has four look-out points, providing visitors with views of Santiago and Puerto Plata as well as of the Cibao Valley and the surrounding area of La Cumbre.
During the inauguration, the Vice Minister for Public Works in the Northern Region, Porfirio Brito, announced that work would begin on the Luperon Tourist Highway within three weeks, since the rains have made the roadway nearly impassable in several places.