Sprucing up the Las Tablas Patriot Temptress Park

A few days ago, Mayor of Las Tablas Eudocio Perez urged the Government to refurbish the town’s Rufina Alfaro Park, calling its current deteriorated state a monument to laziness.

The park is actually a monument to Panamanian patriot Rufina Alfaro, a countrywoman from the province of Los Santos and a somewhat mythically decisive figure in Panama’s independence from the Spanish Empire.

As legend has it, Alfaro, a beautiful and single woman, shared a certain intimacy with the young Spanish soldiers while doubling as a spy for the independence collaborators.

Her role is said to have been essential in allowing a bloodless takeover of the town on November 10, 1821 and declaring it free from colonial rule.  The declaration is known as the Grito de Independencia de la Villa de Los Santos, and 18 days later all of Panama proclaimed its independence from Spain.

The park refurbishing project is already tendered at $123,924 and includes demolishing the current park without touching the bust of Rufina Alfaro.  The first phase would then raise the park almost eight inches and equip it with pedestrian sidewalks; landscaped green areas; electricity and plumbing; and a decorative fountain, La Prensa reports.

Plans for subsequent phases include finishes, the installation of benches and gates in landscaped areas and an amphitheater.

UPDATE:  The Community Development Program (Prodec) won the bid to spruce up the park for a total of $123,879.40.