The site that once housed the cherished amusement park, Los Caballitos, in Holguín has regrettably transformed into an informal dump, as shown in a video shared on Facebook by content creator Ghabriel Pérez this past Saturday.
The brief 29-second clip reveals a vast, barren land behind the arches that once marked the entrance to the beloved park, now cluttered with trash, while young people roam amidst the debris.
"Behind these arches lies a vast wasteland gradually turning into a dump. Only the trees from that era remain," Pérez commented in the video.
Los Caballitos featured a variety of attractions, including spinning carousel horses, boats, bird enclosures, and a central rotating star immortalized by Holguín-born writer Reinaldo Arenas (1943-1990) in his novel "El Palacio de las Blanquísimas Mofetas" (1975). He described a fairground with attractions like "the spinning star, the flying chair, the meteor, the lock, the tíbiri-tábara, the love plane, and the shooting gallery."
Historical Significance and Sudden Demise
Located near the iconic Loma de la Cruz, the art deco-styled park was dismantled around 2023-2024 without any plans for replacement or restoration being communicated by the authorities.
The public response, as reflected in comments, is a mix of nostalgia and outrage. "It was beautiful; I loved going on the boats and carousel horses as a child and even enjoyed the cotton candy. My daughter relished it too. What we were and what we've become, speechless," shared Jasyes Azna.
Other residents directly blame governmental neglect. "I can't believe the carousel horses are gone; where is the government's effort, where is the concern for children's welfare and entertainment?" questioned Olga L. Núñez Fortes.
A Broader Pattern of Decline
Alexis Cruz summed up the collective sentiment: "Once upon a time, there was Los Caballitos park, where so many generations enjoyed themselves... a source of pride for Holguín's children now turned into a massive dump. It's painful and infuriating to see what has become of us," he lamented.
"All of Cuba has been reduced to ruins, undeniable remnants of the worst bombardment, the one that for over 66 years has been destroying our lives," wrote Giselle De La Rosa Vega in her comments.
This situation is part of a rapidly accelerating decline affecting the city known as the Cuban City of Parks.
Recent weeks have seen reports of nightly burning dumps in residential neighborhoods, producing toxic smoke filled with plastics and hazardous waste.
Adding to this, the sword from the statue of patriot Julio Grave de Peralta was recently stolen from its place in the Parque de las Flores, and the old Holguín-Gibara train station, established in 1893, has become a debris dump.
The city's sculptural heritage is also not spared. The iconic woman with an umbrella statue on the pedestrian boulevard exhibits deep cracks and exposed rusty rods, teetering on the brink of collapse.
Once considered one of Cuba's cleanest cities, Holguín now faces a series of abandonments that residents describe as irreversible.
Frequently Asked Questions about Holguín's Decline
What happened to Los Caballitos park in Holguín?
Los Caballitos, once a beloved amusement park in Holguín, has been dismantled and the area is now used as an informal dump.
Why is there public outrage over the state of Holguín?
Residents express anger and disappointment due to the lack of government action and the loss of cultural and recreational spaces, reflecting a broader pattern of neglect and decline.