Ruins of Parque Lenin: Abandonment and vandalism devastate the emblematic park of Havana

Lenin Park, one of the most emblematic recreational areas in Havana, is in a state of alarming abandonment, with spaces taken over by weeds and vandalized facilities that now serve as makeshift housing for homeless individuals.

This vast natural park, which covers 472 hectares and was inaugurated in 1972, has been a victim of vandalism and government neglect, despite the fact that Cuban children have few options for recreation and leisure.

Recent images posted by the YouTube channel JSant TV show the attractions of the ruined park, surrounded by weeds and debris, with the famous star, which was once the largest on the island, with broken glass and being taken over by nature.

The roller coaster and the concert area are also completely in ruins. The stage and its dressing rooms are destroyed.

The situation has worsened to the point where the park is being used as an inappropriate space for homeless individuals to relieve themselves and for people living on the streets, which further exacerbates its deterioration.

In a video published on YouTube, other rusted and stalled attractions can be seen.

In its golden years, Lenin Park was considered the green heart of the capital, a symbol of childhood happiness in the 1980s.

Today, it is just a painful reminder of institutional abandonment.

Originally, this area was conceived as an oasis of fun and culture, with thousands of trees, restaurants, cafes, and various attractions such as pony rides and roller coasters.

However, since its reopening in 2022, with only a few attractions operational, the situation has worsened drastically, with most of them closed in less than a year.

This deterioration reflects the economic crisis that Cuba is experiencing, worsened by fuel shortages and constant blackouts, which prevents the maintenance of suitable and safe recreational spaces for children. Last year, a mother who arrived at the park with her children on a Sunday found it closed and said that there were no longer options for fun in Cuba.

The inability of the Cuban government to preserve a cultural legacy like Lenin Park indicates that rescuing these spaces, which encouraged young people to connect with nature, is not among its priorities.