Parque del Tricentenario (Ponce, Puerto Rico)

Parque del Tricentenario
The Illustrous Ponce Citizens Plaza at Tricentennial Park in Ponce, looking West
Type	Urban park
Location	Ponce, Puerto Rico
Coordinates	18°00′44.79″N 66°36′29.36″W / 18.0124417°N 66.6081556°W / 18.0124417; -66.6081556Coordinates: 18°00′44.79″N 66°36′29.36″W / 18.0124417°N 66.6081556°W / 18.0124417; -66.6081556
Created	1992
Operated by	Government of the Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico
Status	Open dawn to dusk, every day. Entrance free.

Parque del Tricentenario is a passive urban park in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico. The park was built to commemorate the 300th anniversary of the founding of the city. It was inaugurated during the mayoral administration of mayor Rafael Cordero Santiago.

The park is a passive urban family park. It is located in Barrio Tercero at the entrance to the Ponce Historic Zone on Miguel Pou Boulevard, at the southern terminus of PR-1.

The park is a three-plaza park. All three plazas have gardens and marble benches. Setting the stage for the park is El Puente de los Leones (The Bridge of the Lions). It spans Rio Portugues and is the gateway to, not just Parque del Tricentenario, but to the Ponce historical district as well. It features two brass lions guarding the entrance: the older lion represents wisdom and experience, while the younger one stands for the glorious future.

Its centerpiece is a plaza containing a fountain dedicated to Ponce's most illustrious citizens. This plaza is known as Parque de los Ponceños Ilustres (the Illustrious Ponce Citizens Plaza). At either side of this plaza, and tucked in somewhat but facing side streets that lead to and return from the center of the city, are two separate areas dedicated to two of the most honored citizens of Ponce. The one on the right is dedicated to governor Rafael Hernandez Colon; the one on the left is dedicated to governor Luis A. Ferre. A large wall near Hernandez Colon's right plazalette has the encryption, "Ponce es del que nos visita. Ponce es nuestro" (Ponce belongs to those who visit us. Ponce is ours).

The middle area is the largest area of this plaza. It contains a very large fountain and behind the fountain are 24 "kiosks" with fountainettes. Sixteen of these fountainette kiosks are dedicated to illustrious Ponce citizens in 16 different areas of endeavor. Moving from left to right, these twelve areas are: History, Politics, Journalism, Writing, Architecture, Citizenship, Medicine, Music, Craftsmanship, Education, Sports, Plastic Arts, Law, Business, Ponceñistas, and Theatrical Arts. Each fountainette kiosk then has one or more plaques with the names or those being honored engraved on them. Every few years the municipal government announces that new names are to be added to the list and petitions its citizens for suggestions.