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A plan to restore the beaches of Panama City was recently presented by Mayor José Luis Fábrega –an ambitious project envisioned to create tremendous opportunities, not only for the tourist industry but also to the MICE sector and related segments of the Panamanian economy.
Fábrega’s plan was divulged as the city –the first European settlement on the Pacific coast of the Americas—gets ready to celebrate its 500th anniversary. It in this context that he said:
“…Although the city has developed as a coastal urban center during the last 5 centuries, poor planning and the lack of clear vision have forced the city to turn its back on the sea. It is for this reason that we hereby propose a project of great scope and meaning: to restore Panama City’s beaches for the enjoyment of its entire population, granting the capital a dose of first-level tourist and economic potential.”
The ambitious plan will include, among other things, the reconstruction of the beaches of Calidonia and Bella Vista (a combined extension of 1 mile –1.6 km), a marina (complete with swimming pool, parking lots, and an area for cultural activities;) a tramway/aerial lift system with connectivity to Amador, the Maracaná stadium area, and the city’s metro network; amusement parks, and shopping areas.
The project, which in addition to the purposes mentioned above seeks to curb potential damage caused by storm surges and floods, would take 36 months to complete, ending in September of 2022.
The beaches that once bordered the present-day Cinta Costera in downtown Panama City were the source of leisure opportunities for the city’s residents until the late 1940s when pollution and sand extraction made swimming in the area impractical. In 2006, the government of Panama started construction of a US$800-million project to sanitize the Bay of Panama, which has considerably improved the condition of the body of water.
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