---
title: "San Francisco residents back eco-friendly walkway to reopen access to Coco Parque"
date: 2025-08-02
modified: 2026-04-23
author: ""
url: https://panamadaily.news/coco-parque-access-san-francisco/
categories:
  - "Environment"
  - "News"
  - "Politics"
tags:
  - "boardwalk"
  - "Coco del Mar"
  - "Coco Parque"
  - "mangrove"
  - "public space"
  - "San Francisco"
---

# San Francisco residents back eco-friendly walkway to reopen access to Coco Parque

## What Happened

Residents in Panama City’s San Francisco district have backed a plan to create a pedestrian access route to Coco Parque in Coco del Mar, restoring public entry to a green space that has lacked free access for years. In a public consultation held on July 28, about 400 residents approved the project, clearing the way for an eco-friendly boardwalk that would connect the neighborhood to the park.

The proposed route would use public land beside the mangrove and run along the Windrose building, giving visitors a direct path to the park without crossing the current restricted entry point. The walkway is planned as an L-shaped boardwalk of roughly 150 meters.

## Why the Access Matters

Coco Parque covers about 1.3 hectares and includes fruit trees, a gazebo and ocean views. The site once operated as a shipyard more than 20 years ago before the concession expired and the land was recovered for public use. Local leaders say the goal is to turn it into an open, shared space for nearby communities such as Coco del Mar, Viña del Mar and San Francisco Centro.

For years, access has been blocked by a guard post associated with the Belvedere Park building, which sits on a stretch of public servitude. That concession ended in 2023, and the San Francisco representative’s office has asked the Panama City Mayor’s Office to involve the National Land Authority and the Ministry of Housing and Territorial Planning in reviewing the case.

## The Planned Boardwalk

Representative Serena Vamvas described the access as a boardwalk made of recycled plastic wood, designed to cross the mangrove without cutting trees. The project has the support of the Ministry of Environment and will include environmental signage intended to teach visitors about the ecosystem.

The first phase is expected to cost about $110,000. Roughly $70,000 would go toward the boardwalk itself, while the rest would cover photovoltaic lighting and a gate with set visiting hours for security.

Vamvas said the first phase could take six to eight months. After that, a second phase would begin with a participatory design competition open to architects and students to help shape the park.

## Community Role and Next Steps

Local residents have long pushed for the recovery of the space. Luis Cigarruista, treasurer of the Local Development Board of Viña del Mar and Coco del Mar, called the approval a community achievement after years of effort. He said the original push for a neighborhood park came from citizen organizer Betty Chemier and the group Camina Tu Barrio, which promoted the recovery of walkable public spaces and green areas.

The plan also includes creating a neighborhood trust with residents from Coco del Mar and Viña del Mar to help ensure the park’s long-term upkeep beyond the current administration. Future management will include security measures and established hours of use.

The same consultation also approved reconstruction and construction of sidewalks on several streets in San Francisco as part of a broader effort to recover public space in the district.