Constitutional Court Stops National Stadium Construction

The Costa Rican Constitutional Court (Sala IV) accepted an appeal by the ex-Culture Minister, Mr. Guido Saenz who, along with a few other people, got the court to put a stop to the construction of the new national stadium until the court gives a final ruling on the matter.

The signatories of the appeal indicate that no building should be built in La Sabana Park, and that the park is meant for outdoor enjoyment by all the citizens. In addition, the stadium would create traffic problems, and the area could not provide the minimum traffic flow in case of sporting events.

On the opposite side, we have a rejection by the deputy minister of Health and Chairman of the Sports Council of Costa Rica, Osvaldo Pandolfo, who argues that the stadium will be in the same place as the previous one. He also stated that the stadium will generate traffic problems anywhere it is likely to be built.

He added that for now it is unthinkable to construct the building any other place since the land would have to be expropriated and the process is very slow.

Mr. Guido Saenz, upon hearing the court’s ruling, manifested great satisfaction with the achievement. He even said that he is not against the construction of a new national stadium for Costa Rica, but he is against it being built in La Sabana Park.

For him and for many, like us at TicosLand.com, this park should be left as is, without a stadium. The decision to demolish it was very wise, especially if the condition that the stadium was in is taken into account.

Pandolfo said that nothing can be stopped because they have not yet begun construction, but he hopes that with his response to the Constitutional Court, it will hand down a decision as soon as possible. The main problem is that the Court may take one or two years to rule on the matter.

And said stadium would be built thanks to a donation from the Chinese Government to Costa Rica, reason for which it was expected to be finished in the first half of 2010. The cost of the project is U.S. $73 million and with this roadblock the donation is in danger.

Here at TicosLand.com, feel as does Mr. Sáenz, La Sabana should be a space to enjoy the outdoors, where there is no restriction for its enjoyment, and having the stadium means that we must pay to have access to that space. However, we believe that we must give weight to the two theses, so that Costa Ricans can have a new and modern stadium soon.

Similarly, the traffic chaos that will be generated in the area will be such that the meaning of La Sabana, an open space with cleaner air than the rest of the city, will be threatened by these problems.

We will see what the Constitutional Court says. We are sure that what’s best for Costa Rica will be done.