Cozumel’s La Selva Park Reopens After 10 Years of Abandonment

Cozumel, Mexico — Governor Mara Lezama Espinosa and Mayor José Luis Chacón have reopened La Selva Park, a public space that underwent a complete rehabilitation after being closed and abandoned for more than 10 years.

The officials toured the park, with Lezama noting that at the start of her administration, the state DIF (Integral Family Development System), in coordination with the municipal government, pushed for its recovery. This followed an agreement between the honorary presidents of the state DIF, Verónica Lezama, and the municipal DIF, Diana Beatriz Sosa Blanco, to grant the park under a trust to DIF Cozumel, aiming to return it to island families.

The rehabilitation included replacing 600 square meters of rubber flooring in the play area, renewing grass in green spaces, installing inclusive play equipment, refurbishing the picnic area, rehabilitating bathrooms, painting, and adding benches and trash bins. These efforts created a safe, dignified, and inclusive environment for Cozumel’s children, adolescents, and families.

Mayor Chacón thanked the governor for promptly addressing the citizen request made through the “La Voz del Pueblo” program and acknowledged the timely follow-up that made the park a reality today. He emphasized that the space will be operated by the municipal DIF with an inclusive and social focus.

Lezama reiterated that this project demonstrates a government that listens and acts, stating that a single citizen call was enough to trigger teamwork between different levels of government. “Today the complete rehabilitation is a reality and La Selva Park looks beautiful,” she said.

Authorities agreed that this space represents a direct benefit for Cozumel’s youth. “We continue working every day, and in this humanist government with a feminist heart, your voice is definitely heard! We keep working together to transform,” Lezama added.

The tour also included Verónica Lezama Espinosa, honorary president of the Quintana Roo DIF System, and Diana Beatriz Sosa Blanco, honorary president of the Municipal DIF.