Ninth of July Park
Encyclopedia
Ninth of July Park is the largest public park in the city of San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
.
city of Tucumán, as in cities nationwide, created the need for unprecedented urban improvements during the late nineteenth century. The first public official to rally to this need was the Minister of Education of the Province of Tucumán, Alberto León Soldati, who in 1898 proposed the creation of an extensive green space
such as those under development in Buenos Aires
, Rosario
and Córdoba
, the nation's three largest cities. Tucumán's need for a modern recreational park was especially prescient, as the city was then still limited by a colonial grid of narrow streets and its relative isolation.
Elected Senator
for his province, Soldati commissioned the Parks Director for the city of Buenos Aires, French Argentine
urbanist Charles Thays, to create a central public park for Tucumán. Thays drafted plans for a 400 hectare (1000 acre) green space to the east of the city, on which work began in 1906. Following the purchase of the remaining needed land, work accelerated on the project and the park was inaugurated on July 9, 1916, the centennial of the Argentine Declaration of Independence
.
The inaugurated park was a 100 hectare (250 acre) segment centered around Bishop José Colombres
' historic residence. Father Colombres introduced sugarcane
to Tucumán in 1821, and the crop quickly became the province's economic mainstay (it still is its predominant agricultural crop). Lake San Miguel (named in honor of the city's patron saint
) and a rose garden
were created to the south of the historic residence, common denominators to most of Thays' public parks. The founder and first President of the University of Tucumán, Doctor Juan Bautista Terán, purchased 20 cast iron
, glazed sculptures in France
for the park and the planned Liberal Arts
campus therein, opened in 1914. Later additions included a campground, a topiary
sun dial
, the Tucumán Lawn Tennis Club, the Municipal Cultural Center and Sports Complex, the University's Odontology and Physics
campuses and the Nasif Estéfano
Speedway.
The southern three-fourths of the park was never completed, however. The parkland south of Lake San Miguel was graudally replaced facilities such as the Tucumán Hippodrome and a public orphanage built by the Eva Perón Foundation
(opened in person by the first lady in 1950). The 1956 expropriation of 466 hectares (1183 acres) for the construction of Matienzo Airport included most of the remaining, incomplete southern portion, and dashed plans to recover the remainder of the park. The airport was relocated to an eastern, suburban location in 1986, after which the runway and terminal were converted to the Metropolitan Long-distance Bus Terminal.
Ninth of July Park continues to host Independence Day parades on its namesake date, often with the attendance of the President of Argentina
. Its considerable cultural patrimony is currently undergoing renovations, and the park is being studied by UNESCO
for a possible bestowment of their recognition as a World Heritage Site
.
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
.
History and overview
Economic growth in the Argentine NorthwestArgentine Northwest
The Argentine Northwest is a region of Argentina composed by the provinces of Catamarca, Jujuy, Salta, Santiago del Estero and Tucumán.-Geography:The region had 5 different biomes:* Sub-Andean humid Sierras of the east...
city of Tucumán, as in cities nationwide, created the need for unprecedented urban improvements during the late nineteenth century. The first public official to rally to this need was the Minister of Education of the Province of Tucumán, Alberto León Soldati, who in 1898 proposed the creation of an extensive green space
Open space reserve
Open space reserve, open space preserve, and open space reservation, are planning and conservation ethics terms used to describe areas of protected or conserved land or water on which development is indefinitely set aside...
such as those under development in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, Rosario
Rosario
Rosario is the largest city in the province of Santa Fe, Argentina. It is located northwest of Buenos Aires, on the western shore of the Paraná River and has 1,159,004 residents as of the ....
and Córdoba
Córdoba, Argentina
Córdoba is a city located near the geographical center of Argentina, in the foothills of the Sierras Chicas on the Suquía River, about northwest of Buenos Aires. It is the capital of Córdoba Province. Córdoba is the second-largest city in Argentina after the federal capital Buenos Aires, with...
, the nation's three largest cities. Tucumán's need for a modern recreational park was especially prescient, as the city was then still limited by a colonial grid of narrow streets and its relative isolation.
Elected Senator
Argentine Senate
The Argentine Senate is the upper house of the Argentine National Congress. It has 72 senators: three for each province and three for the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires...
for his province, Soldati commissioned the Parks Director for the city of Buenos Aires, French Argentine
French Argentine
A French Argentine is an Argentine citizen of full or partial French ancestry. French Argentines form the third or fourth largest ancestry group after Italian Argentines, Spanish Argentines, and perhaps German Argentines...
urbanist Charles Thays, to create a central public park for Tucumán. Thays drafted plans for a 400 hectare (1000 acre) green space to the east of the city, on which work began in 1906. Following the purchase of the remaining needed land, work accelerated on the project and the park was inaugurated on July 9, 1916, the centennial of the Argentine Declaration of Independence
Argentine Declaration of Independence
What today is commonly referred as the Independence of Argentina was declared on July 9, 1816 by the Congress of Tucumán. In reality, the congressmen that were assembled in Tucumán declared the independence of the United Provinces of South America, which is still today one of the legal names of the...
.
The inaugurated park was a 100 hectare (250 acre) segment centered around Bishop José Colombres
José Colombres
José Eusebio Colombres was an Argentine statesman and bishop. He was a representative to the Congress of Tucumán of 9 July 1816 which declared the Independence of Argentina, and is credited with the foundation of the important sugar cane industry in Tucumán Province.Colombres was born in San...
' historic residence. Father Colombres introduced sugarcane
Sugarcane
Sugarcane refers to any of six to 37 species of tall perennial grasses of the genus Saccharum . Native to the warm temperate to tropical regions of South Asia, they have stout, jointed, fibrous stalks that are rich in sugar, and measure two to six metres tall...
to Tucumán in 1821, and the crop quickly became the province's economic mainstay (it still is its predominant agricultural crop). Lake San Miguel (named in honor of the city's patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
) and a rose garden
Rose garden
A Rose garden or Rosarium is a garden or park, often open to the public, used to present and grow various types of garden roses. Designs vary tremendously and roses may be displayed alongside other plants or grouped by individual variety, colour or class in rose beds.-Origins of the rose...
were created to the south of the historic residence, common denominators to most of Thays' public parks. The founder and first President of the University of Tucumán, Doctor Juan Bautista Terán, purchased 20 cast iron
Cast iron
Cast iron is derived from pig iron, and while it usually refers to gray iron, it also identifies a large group of ferrous alloys which solidify with a eutectic. The color of a fractured surface can be used to identify an alloy. White cast iron is named after its white surface when fractured, due...
, glazed sculptures in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
for the park and the planned Liberal Arts
Liberal arts
The term liberal arts refers to those subjects which in classical antiquity were considered essential for a free citizen to study. Grammar, Rhetoric and Logic were the core liberal arts. In medieval times these subjects were extended to include mathematics, geometry, music and astronomy...
campus therein, opened in 1914. Later additions included a campground, a topiary
Topiary
Topiary is the horticultural practice of training live perennial plants, by clipping the foliage and twigs of trees, shrubs and subshrubs to develop and maintain clearly defined shapes, perhaps geometric or fanciful; and the term also refers to plants which have been shaped in this way. It can be...
sun dial
Sun Dial
Sun Dial is a British space rock band formed in 1990 by Gary Ramon.-History:The precursor to Sun Dial was Ramon's the Modern Art, formed in the mid-'80s with a loose lineup that never played gigs but did see the release of two studio albums...
, the Tucumán Lawn Tennis Club, the Municipal Cultural Center and Sports Complex, the University's Odontology and Physics
Physics
Physics is a natural science that involves the study of matter and its motion through spacetime, along with related concepts such as energy and force. More broadly, it is the general analysis of nature, conducted in order to understand how the universe behaves.Physics is one of the oldest academic...
campuses and the Nasif Estéfano
Nasif Estéfano
Nasif Moisés Estéfano was a racing driver from Argentina. He participated in 2 World Championship Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on February 7, 1960. He scored no championship points...
Speedway.
The southern three-fourths of the park was never completed, however. The parkland south of Lake San Miguel was graudally replaced facilities such as the Tucumán Hippodrome and a public orphanage built by the Eva Perón Foundation
Eva Perón Foundation
The Eva Perón Foundation was a charitable foundation begun by Eva Perón, a prominent Argentine political leader, when she was the First Lady and Spiritual Leader of the Nation of Argentina. It operated from 1948 to 1955...
(opened in person by the first lady in 1950). The 1956 expropriation of 466 hectares (1183 acres) for the construction of Matienzo Airport included most of the remaining, incomplete southern portion, and dashed plans to recover the remainder of the park. The airport was relocated to an eastern, suburban location in 1986, after which the runway and terminal were converted to the Metropolitan Long-distance Bus Terminal.
Ninth of July Park continues to host Independence Day parades on its namesake date, often with the attendance of the President of Argentina
President of Argentina
The President of the Argentine Nation , usually known as the President of Argentina, is the head of state of Argentina. Under the national Constitution, the President is also the chief executive of the federal government and Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.Through Argentine history, the...
. Its considerable cultural patrimony is currently undergoing renovations, and the park is being studied by UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
for a possible bestowment of their recognition as a World Heritage Site
World Heritage Site
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a place that is listed by the UNESCO as of special cultural or physical significance...
.