Isla Verde, Puerto Rico
Encyclopedia
Isla Verde is a District
of Carolina
located east of Santurce
(south western front of Piñones) next to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
above the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge
. Isla Verde is the area just outside the capital of Puerto Rico
that links with the college town of Río Piedras
and the residential counterpart surroundings of Hato Rey
which includes the neighborhoods of Baldrich and University Gardens revolving around Golden Mile's financial district
.
of Carolina. The district of Isla Verde is in fact the coastal area of Cangrejo Arriba. Isla Verde is bordered to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by the San Juan
area of Condado, to the south by Santurce
(also a San Juan area) and to the east by downtown Carolina. Isla Verde is one of the hundred tourist areas of Puerto Rico hosting various restaurants, hotels, casinos and discotheques.
, which many people mistakenly think is situated in San Juan, is actually located at the Isla Verde area, which, as aforementioned, belongs to the city of Carolina. For almost four decades, the airport was given the unofficial "Isla Verde International Airport" title, both by locals and visitors. Residents of Isla Verde also tend to downplay the fact that the area is part of Carolina since culturally and socially Isla Verde is more like Condado and Ocean Park which are both nearby and are part of Santurce, one of the capital's historic districts.
Since the airport's creation and up until the September 11, 2001 attacks
, aviation
fans could enjoy a day at the beach and, at the same time, watch the aircraft
land or take-off at a specially designed spot located near Piñones, another Carolina barrio
. But after the September 11 tragedies, this spot was closed because the general public could also see general aviation activities take place, such as luggage handling, fuel
filling and others. Another reason that this spot in particular was closed is that it could have provided a view for an attacker of a presidential aircraft or for terrorists
. Because of the airport's location in the Isla Verde area, some streets have had to be closed several times for welcomings; especially when any Puerto Rican has had overseas success. Such cases are winners of the Miss Universe
beauty pageant and boxers
returns from a winning fight. The streets were closed when Pope John Paul II
visited in 1984, and during the 1987 state visit of the King and Queen of Spain. The area has a multitude of restaurant
s, hotels and high-priced homes. Many celebrities have lived in Isla Verde's affluent areas, including some former members of the boy band Menudo
, including Ricky Martin
. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, world boxing
champion Wilfredo Gómez
owned a discothèque (which was shaped like a Flying saucer
) in the area, and Samuel Serrano
also owned businesses there. Isla Verde is also home to an important Cuban exile
community centered around Casa Cuba, which is Puerto Rico's main Cuban social club.
District
Districts are a type of administrative division, in some countries managed by a local government. They vary greatly in size, spanning entire regions or counties, several municipalities, or subdivisions of municipalities.-Austria:...
of Carolina
Carolina, Puerto Rico
Carolina is a city located in the northern part of Puerto Rico, bordering the Atlantic Ocean; it lies north of Gurabo and Juncos; east of Trujillo Alto and San Juan; and west of Canóvanas and Loíza. Carolina is spread over 12 wards plus Carolina Pueblo...
located east of Santurce
Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
(south western front of Piñones) next to the Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
above the Teodoro Moscoso Bridge
Teodoro Moscoso Bridge
The Teodoro Moscoso Bridge is the bridge that connects San Juan with Isla Verde.-Facts:It was named after Teodoro Moscoso, the architect of Operation Bootstrap, a plan of economic expansion after WWII....
. Isla Verde is the area just outside the capital of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
that links with the college town of Río Piedras
Río Piedras, Puerto Rico
Río Piedras is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Founded in 1714, it has been the home of the University of Puerto Rico's main campus since 1903, earning the town the popular name of Ciudad Universitaria...
and the residential counterpart surroundings of Hato Rey
Hato Rey, Puerto Rico
Hato Rey is a former ward located in the northwest part of the dissolved municipality of Río Piedras. It now stretches over three wards of the municipality of San Juan, Puerto Rico:*Hato Rey Central*Hato Rey Norte*Hato Rey Sur...
which includes the neighborhoods of Baldrich and University Gardens revolving around Golden Mile's financial district
Financial District
A Financial District is the central area in some large cities where banks, insurance companies and other large corporations have head offices. Financial districts are often home to skyscrapers...
.
Geolocation
Isla Verde is also the name of the tiny island some 400 meters north of Punta Medio, with a size of just 2,518 m² (0.6 acres). It is the island that gave name to the district. The island falls within the Cangrejo Arriba barrioBarrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
of Carolina. The district of Isla Verde is in fact the coastal area of Cangrejo Arriba. Isla Verde is bordered to the north by the Atlantic Ocean, to the west by the San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
area of Condado, to the south by Santurce
Santurce, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Santurce is a district of San Juan, Puerto Rico.-Summary:Santurce is one of the top ten most populated areas of the island holding Miramar, Loíza, Isla Grande, Barrio Obrero, and Condado as main cultural hot spots for art, music, cuisine, fashion, hotels, technology, multimedia, film, textile and...
(also a San Juan area) and to the east by downtown Carolina. Isla Verde is one of the hundred tourist areas of Puerto Rico hosting various restaurants, hotels, casinos and discotheques.
Neighborhood entanglements
The Luis Muñoz Marín International AirportLuis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport is a joint civil-military public airport located in Carolina, Puerto Rico, three miles southeast of San Juan. Over 4 million passengers board a plane at the airport per year according to FAA reports . It is owned and managed by the Puerto Rico Ports...
, which many people mistakenly think is situated in San Juan, is actually located at the Isla Verde area, which, as aforementioned, belongs to the city of Carolina. For almost four decades, the airport was given the unofficial "Isla Verde International Airport" title, both by locals and visitors. Residents of Isla Verde also tend to downplay the fact that the area is part of Carolina since culturally and socially Isla Verde is more like Condado and Ocean Park which are both nearby and are part of Santurce, one of the capital's historic districts.
Since the airport's creation and up until the September 11, 2001 attacks
September 11, 2001 attacks
The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks The September 11 attacks (also referred to as September 11, September 11th or 9/119/11 is pronounced "nine eleven". The slash is not part of the pronunciation...
, aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
fans could enjoy a day at the beach and, at the same time, watch the aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
land or take-off at a specially designed spot located near Piñones, another Carolina barrio
Barrio
Barrio is a Spanish word meaning district or neighborhood.-Usage:In its formal usage in English, barrios are generally considered cohesive places, sharing, for example, a church and traditions such as feast days...
. But after the September 11 tragedies, this spot was closed because the general public could also see general aviation activities take place, such as luggage handling, fuel
Fuel
Fuel is any material that stores energy that can later be extracted to perform mechanical work in a controlled manner. Most fuels used by humans undergo combustion, a redox reaction in which a combustible substance releases energy after it ignites and reacts with the oxygen in the air...
filling and others. Another reason that this spot in particular was closed is that it could have provided a view for an attacker of a presidential aircraft or for terrorists
Terrorism
Terrorism is the systematic use of terror, especially as a means of coercion. In the international community, however, terrorism has no universally agreed, legally binding, criminal law definition...
. Because of the airport's location in the Isla Verde area, some streets have had to be closed several times for welcomings; especially when any Puerto Rican has had overseas success. Such cases are winners of the Miss Universe
Miss Universe
Miss Universe is an annual international beauty contest that is run by the Miss Universe Organization. The pageant is the most publicized beauty contest in the world with 600 million viewers....
beauty pageant and boxers
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
returns from a winning fight. The streets were closed when Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
visited in 1984, and during the 1987 state visit of the King and Queen of Spain. The area has a multitude of restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s, hotels and high-priced homes. Many celebrities have lived in Isla Verde's affluent areas, including some former members of the boy band Menudo
Menudo (band)
Menudo was a Puerto Rican boy band that was formed in the 1970s by producer Edgardo Díaz, releasing their first album in 1977. The band achieved much success, especially during the 1980s, becoming the most popular Latin American teen musical group of the era....
, including Ricky Martin
Ricky Martin
Enrique "Ricky" Martín Morales , better known as Ricky Martin, is a Puerto Rican and Spanish pop singer and actor who achieved prominence, first as a member of the Latin boy band Menudo, then as a solo artist since 1991.During his career he has sold more than 60 million album copies worldwide...
. During the late 1970s and early 1980s, world boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion Wilfredo Gómez
Wilfredo Gómez
Wilfredo Gómez , sometimes referred to as Bazooka Gómez, is a former boxer and three time world champion.-Biography:...
owned a discothèque (which was shaped like a Flying saucer
Flying saucer
A flying saucer is a type of unidentified flying object sometimes believed to be of alien origin with a disc or saucer-shaped body, usually described as silver or metallic, occasionally reported as covered with running lights or surrounded with a glowing light, hovering or moving rapidly either...
) in the area, and Samuel Serrano
Samuel Serrano
Samuel Serrano , nicknamed Sammy and El Torbellino, is a Puerto Rican who won boxing's world junior lightweight championship twice.-Early history:...
also owned businesses there. Isla Verde is also home to an important Cuban exile
Cuban exile
The term "Cuban exile" refers to the many Cubans who have sought alternative political or economic conditions outside the island, dating back to the Ten Years' War and the struggle for Cuban independence during the 19th century...
community centered around Casa Cuba, which is Puerto Rico's main Cuban social club.
Subareas
Isla Verde has very posh areas but is not too far from the Island's largest public housing project, Luis Llorens Torres Residential Complex, which is actually within San Juan. Despite its closeness to this area, Isla Verde is very safe thanks to the heavy police presence in the area, in fact Carolina's autonomous police department has a police station in the area.- Piñones State ForestPiñones State ForestPiñones State Forest is an ecological timberland forest jungle 7 yards from one of the longest beaches in Puerto Rico.-Geographical location:...