A. M. 
Alonso Zuniga / Photographer / Producer
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Glasswing International, with the support of the government of San Salvador East, inaugurated the remodeling of La Ceiba Ecological Park in San Bartolo del Norte in the district of Ilopango. This intervention is the result of the investment of the IMAGINA Project, financed by USAID and implemented by Glasswing International, which will support more than 5,000 people who are inhabitants of the area and users of public space and to make the space inclusive and used by children, adults and seniors. This project took four months to complete and was supported by the government of San Salvador East. The USAID investment was more than US$65,000 thousand.
Glasswing International, USAID’s implementing partner, carried out a consultation and co-creation process with the community to develop the design. This process was developed through the methodology called “My Ideal Space”, with the purpose of getting to know the needs of the inhabitants. As a result of this process, the works that were carried out are: (1) construction of pedestrian paths; (2) restoration and painting of basketball court and hoops (this court is one of the main spaces used by the Educational Complex, San Bartolo del Norte); (3) painting of murals; (4) installation of urban furniture and lighting fixtures; (5) installation of signage and public space care messages; (6) installation of playgrounds for children; (7) landscaping; (8) installation of garbage bins; (9) repair of soccer goals; and (10) cultural activation workshops.
With the improvements made, the community’s public space acquires additional value and promotes coexistence, a sense of belonging, identity, pride and neighborhood cohesion. In addition, different audiences can have a place for healthy recreation, with an inclusive approach to improve conditions for users, cyclists and residents of the area.
The works at La Ceiba Ecological Park, San Bartolo del Norte, Ilopango, are part of the IMAGINA Project of USAID and Glasswing International, which is expected to intervene in a total of 50 public and community spaces. In addition to the renovation of Cuscatlán Park, which was part of this project, with a total investment of US$17 million from USAID and a counterpart of another $17 million from the private sector and international foundations. With these interventions, IMAGINA, to date, has carried out a total of 32 remodeling projects of public spaces including: Colinas del Norte Urbanization (Ciudad Delgado), Ciclovía Altavista (Tonacatepeque), Villa Mariona 2 (Cuscatancingo), Tikales and Valle Verde 4 (Apopa) and other communities in the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador and the city of San Miguel. Soon, interventions will also take place in Jardines de Selt Sutt (Ilopango), Parque Lincoln (Mejicanos), Valle Verde 3 (Apopa), among others, until the renovation of the remaining 18 public spaces is completed.
