Playa del Carmen to Get First ‘México Imparable’ Community Center in Quintana Roo

Playa del Carmen, Quintana Roo — Construction has begun on Quintana Roo’s first “México Imparable” community center, a violence-prevention project aimed at children, adolescents and young people in the Palmas 3 neighborhood of Playa del Carmen.

Governor Mara Lezama and Miguel Torruco Garza, undersecretary for Violence Prevention at Mexico’s Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat, led a community assembly to announce the project, which is part of a national strategy to strengthen the social fabric and offer young people alternatives in areas targeted as “peace-building territories.” A second center is planned for Cancún.

“We have spoken about what we do at DIF through Pilares, but this community center, a public policy of President Claudia Sheinbaum, embraces sports, culture and activities so young people can discover their talent,” Lezama said. “It was also designed by the Security and Citizen Protection Secretariat, led by Omar García Harfuch.”

Torruco Garza said the project addresses one of the pillars of the National Security Strategy: tackling the root causes of crime before it occurs. He explained that the federal government identified certain municipalities as peace-building territories and will promote activities for young people through shared spaces for sports, culture and mental health care. As part of that plan, 100 “México Imparable” community centers will be built across the country, including in Playa del Carmen and Cancún.

The Playa del Carmen center could be completed in about 90 days, Torruco Garza said. It will include a boxing gym, a running track, covered courts for volleyball, basketball and soccer, and spaces for artistic expression. Mental health professionals will also be on hand to provide guidance to young people.

Playa del Carmen Mayor Estefanía Mercado said the center will be able to serve more than 1,000 people daily through sports facilities, cultural activities and mental health services.

Before construction began, Guido Mendiburu Solís, head of the SICT center in Quintana Roo, detailed the scope of the national project, which is designed to reach young people between 12 and 29 with free activities focused on sports, culture, arts and socioemotional well-being.

The event was also attended by Verónica Lezama Espinosa, honorary president of the DIF Quintana Roo system; Karen Alejandra Román Flores, technical secretary of the Interior Secretariat’s regional peace and security coordination; and José Rodolfo Pérez Ruiz, deputy director of training and inter-institutional liaison for the national DIF system.