The Cuban Sisi Aguilera visited the Lenin Park in Havana and posted a video on Facebook showing the state of total neglect in which what was for decades the main —and practically the only— recreational area for families in the capital now exists.
"I knew that it was destroyed but I wanted to see it with my own eyes", Aguilera explains at the beginning of the one minute and 39 seconds reel titled "From Laughter to Ruins… this is how this place ended." What she found left her speechless.
"More than a park, it resembles a cemetery. The solitude here overwhelms me. I'm even afraid to be around," describes the Cuban as she walks through the facilities. Her images depict empty structures, overgrown vegetation, and a silence that contrasts with the memories of entire generations of Habaneros.
Aguilera does not hide the frustration she feels about the show: "It's a pity, there is not much to show because everything has disappeared. But once again, something else has been destroyed. A consequence of neglect. Here there are no laughs, no games, nothing at all. Only empty structures and memories."
The content creator links the deterioration of the park with the lack of options faced by Cuban children today: "Then we wonder why children don't have a childhood. Where are they going to play? Where do they enjoy themselves?" She concludes with a statement that captures what she sees each time she goes out into the street: "They say everything is fine, and all I see is a country in ruins."
The Lenin Park was inaugurated on April 22, 1972 in the municipality of Arroyo Naranjo, south of Havana, as a recreational complex of 472 hectares designed by architect Antonio Quintana Simonetti. During its heyday, it featured over 33 facilities: roller coasters, restaurants, cafes, an aquarium, pools, and the Thematic Park La Mariposa, nicknamed the "socialist Disneyland". For decades, it was the favorite destination for Havana families, with affordable prices that made it accessible to most.
"This park was by no means one of the most modern. It also didn't have the best conditions. But at least it was a place where Cubans could bring their children during vacations because it wasn't too expensive," Aguilera recalls. "I remember they sold confections that were much more affordable than in other places, and children and families had options to enjoy. But over time, everything got worse, and it ceased to be that place so many wanted to go. It simply disappeared."
After the closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the park attempted to reopen in April 2022 to celebrate its 50th anniversary, but only six to eight of the 17 attractions at Mariposa Park were operational. The few that were functioning ceased operations less than a year later due to lack of maintenance. Images from recent years show the corroded roller coaster, the iconic destroyed star, the demolished concert area, and homeless individuals occupying the facilities.
In January 2025, Prime Minister Manuel Marrero promised the restoration of Lenin Park alongside ExpoCuba and the National Zoo, with no tangible results. In July 2025, the government announced the repair of only three attractions —the pirate ship, the elephant ride, and the dinosaur— but warned that they will not have the same original mobility due to deterioration accumulated from age, wear, and acid rain.
More than a year after those promises, the video of Sisi Aguilera confirms that the park remains unchanged. "They have let everything be destroyed," wrote a user on social media, capturing the sentiment of those who grew up among its attractions and now only find rubble.
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