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Former theme park, wetland area in Hermosillo are gaining widespread attention

By Kendal Blust
Published: Monday, February 14, 2022 - 8:30am
Updated: Monday, February 14, 2022 - 8:48am

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La Sauceda
Kendal Blust/KJZZ
Only a small portion of the La Sauceda wetlands remain in Hermosillo near what used to be the course of the Rio Sonora through the city.

The vast majority of residents in the Sonoran capital Hermosillo want to see renovations at an abandoned theme park and a nearby wetland where activists have been pushing for restoration.

After years of inattention, the La Sauceda wetlands in Hermosillo, and a deteriorating water-park nearby, have become a rallying point for a growing number of residents who want a greener city.

In recent years, activists have prevented the sale of the land to developers and undertaken grassroots efforts to make the area a usable green space.

La Sauceda theme park
Kendal Blust/KJZZ
Some Hermosillo residents hope to turn the long-abandoned La Sauceda theme park into a bonatical garden.

Now, more than 80% of city residents are behind that effort, according to a new study by the non-profit Hermosillo ¿Cómo Vamos?.

“La Sauceda is not just important because of what happens in that space, in that zone in particular,” Director Ernesto Urbina said. “But also for what it represents and symbolizes in the legitimate asperations of Hermosillo residents to reduce the deficit and the gap that we have in our city of green areas and public spaces and recreational and cultural areas.”

He said it’s clear that there is a growing demand in Hermosillo for leaders to take action to provide those green spaces that would improve people’s quality of life and help address the impacts of climate change and extreme heat.

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