Visits
Neighbors from different neighborhoods in Toluca denounce the abandonment of gardens and ridges with overgrown grass and broken lights wholesale
WRITING
CANTON GROUP
In Tolucathe parks that were once family gathering points today look empty, covered in weeds and darkness. Municipal neglect has set off alarms among residents, who claim that the lack of maintenance translates into more insecurity and in a feeling of total abandonment by the local government.
One of the most worrying cases is Guelatao Parkwhere the lights have not been working for months. As night falls, the place becomes a dark and silent passage, covered by waist-high grasslands.
“It’s like walking through shadows. It’s scary to think that someone could hide there,” said Gabriela Montes, neighbor and mother of a young university student.
The problem is not limited to a single point. In neighborhoods such as Independencia, Morelos, and Las Margaritas, neighbors describe the same panorama: broken benches, accumulated garbage, cracked sidewalks and little police presence.
“The parks became no man’s land. Before we brought the children to play; now only the memory remains,” lamented Miguel Ángel Soto, a resident of the area.
along the avenue Matlazincas Walkthe sidewalks are another reflection of urban deterioration. Elderly and disabled people stumble among roots and debris, while pedestrians avoid walking there after sunset.
“They attack you at any time. The thieves take advantage because there is no light or surveillance,” denounced Óscar Rojas, a local merchant.
The increase in robberies from pedestrians, especially from UAEMéx students, has sparked widespread concern. The settlers claim that they have sent multiple letters and requests to the city council, but without receiving a response or concrete actions.
Meanwhile, shadows take over the parks and streets, and with them the fear of the people of Toluca. Each night that passes without attention reinforces the perception that the city is slowly fading away, a victim of the indifference and lack of response from the municipal government.