San Juan, PR - Construction and improvements to the Visitor Center parking lot will begin on June 2, 2014.
For the next 3 weeks the Visitor parking lot at Castillo San Cristobal located on Avenida Muñoz Rivera will
be closed.Access will be limited to pedestrians and official vehicles only. Tour busses will drop off their
clients at the entrance to the parking lot and will need to relocate until it is time to pick up their guests.
This construction includes a new design of the parking area to make it safer and more accessible for
our visitors.The construction will include realigned parking spaces, a sidewalk, drainage improvements,
erosion control, and proper signage. Park rangers will be available to assist visitors and provide information
at the entrance. Vehicles will not be permitted to block the traffic flow into the Old San Juan area.
"We are focused on enhancing visitor safety and experience in this area, as highest priority is always for
our visitors to have a safe and enjoyable visit" said Superintendent Walter J. Chavez."Due to the considerable
vehicle and pedestrian congestion, sharing the same space at the same time in the parking lot makes it unsafe
for our visitors and we need to correct those deficiencies" added Chavez. Once the initial phase of this project
(3 weeks) is completed, limited parking will become available.The entire project is expected to be completed
by Sept. 30, 2014.
Visitors to the park, Commercial Use Authorization holders and others who visit the park are encouraged to
monitor this situation by checking our website, www.nps.gov/saju throughout the construction process to
check on the status of access to the parking lot.
San Juan National Historic Site is comprised of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, Castillo San Cristóbal, Fort
San Juan de La Cruz (El Cañuelo), the San Juan Gat and most of the City Wall.The fortifications are open
every day from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm, except on Sundays when San Cristóbal is open until 7:00 pm.The
entrance fee ticket is $5.00 to visit both fortifications valid for 7 days from the day of purchase. Children
ages 15 and under are free of charge accompanied by an adult.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
