La Plancha clean-up invigorates volunteers

Mérida, Yucatán — A brigade of 25 volunteers held a community clean-up of La Plancha, the railway yards that neighbors hope will become a large park space for the city.

Locals and expats joined forces to pick up litter, pull weeds and rake the pocket parks and grounds surrounding the field. Branches collected were kept for compost to help future trees to grow.

Attendees gathered at “the base of the Gran Plancha,” on Calle 46 and 47 on the east side of the Centro.

Diario de Yucatán reported the event, giving welcome publicity to the effort to create a new “green lung” north of the old train station. The reporter stated that some volunteers were introduced to the campaign through the clean-up project, and offered their help for future activities.

La Plancha is a 20-acre government-owned parcel with what many see as untapped potential. Neighbors fear development there would swallow up rare open space in the center of the city, and propose a cultural and green space along the lines of New York’s Central Park.

Follow La Plancha’s group of volunteers and boosters (and see the results of their work) on their Facebook page. A forum to discuss creating Gran Parque La Plancha was more than a year ago.