San Juan Mayor Pushes Back on DTOP Project That Would Fell Trees Near El Morro

San Juan Mayor Miguel Romero sent a letter to the Secretary of the Department of Transportation and Public Works (DTOP), Edwin González Montalvo, demanding he convene community meetings before advancing a controversial road project in Old San Juan that would fell mature trees near the Castillo San Felipe del Morro ¹.

Project AC-240013 calls for the construction of a 20-foot diameter roundabout at the Las Monjas intersection and the paving with concrete of an informal dirt parking area on parcel 022-091-002-01, in front of El Morro's access road, for official use by La Fortaleza police vehicles ².

The Background

The Old San Juan community has been organizing for months against tree removal in the historic district. In May 2026, resident Giancarlo González launched a Change.org petition that has surpassed 7,944 signatures calling for a halt to tree removal and environmental impact assessments before authorizing any cuts ³. In parallel, the Salvemos El Morro collective has documented the project's technical details and launched a public campaign against the intervention ².

Residents argue there is no documented traffic problem justifying the roundabout. According to analysis of the official project document, it includes no accident data, congestion studies, or driver complaints supporting the need for the construction ².

The Facts and Numbers

• Proposed roundabout: 20 feet in diameter (experts recommend 12 feet as an alternative) ²
• Parking lot: formalization of an irregular dirt lot into permanent concrete, parcel 022-091-002-01 ²
• Opposition signatures: more than 7,944 on the Change.org petition ³
• Petition active since: May 21, 2026 ³
• Environmental benefit at risk: each mature tree absorbs approximately 150 kg of CO2 per year and reduces local temperature by up to 5 degrees Celsius in summer ³
• Abandoned park: the recreational space adjacent to the project lacks swings and has broken exercise machines, but receives no investment from the project ²

Meanwhile, Mayor Romero stated in his letter that his administration "opposes tree removal when reasonable alternatives exist" and requested that DTOP "reevaluate those project components that may involve tree removal" ¹.

The proposed pedestrian crossing on the roundabout's outer curve would force walkers to descend and ascend unnecessarily, disrupting current pedestrian routes that function without problems ².

What It Means for You

If you live, work, or visit Old San Juan, this project directly affects you. The roundabout and parking lot construction would change vehicular and pedestrian flow in one of the historic district's most-trafficked areas. The loss of mature trees would mean less shade in an area where temperatures already reach extreme levels — in the middle of a drought and urban heat island, every tree matters.

The project also raises questions about public investment priorities: why spend money paving a parking lot for official vehicles when the park where neighborhood children play is destroyed and abandoned?

For those who visit El Morro — one of Puerto Rico's most important tourist destinations — paving the dirt lot in front of the castle would impact the visual experience of the historic site.

How to Take Action / Checklist

1. Sign the petition on Change.org by searching "Detener la tala de árboles en Viejo San Juan" — it already has nearly 8,000 signatures and counting ³
2. Visit salvemoselmorro.com to see the technical plans for project AC-240013 and share them with your neighbors ²
3. Contact the DTOP office and request the public hearings that Mayor Romero has requested ¹
4. Reach out to your municipal legislator to support the mayor's position against tree felling
5. Attend community meetings when DTOP convenes them — your presence and testimony count
6. Document existing trees — take photos and videos of the area before any intervention to create a public record
7. Share on social media using the hashtag #SalvemosElMorro to amplify the community's voice

What's Next

The next step is in DTOP's hands. Secretary González Montalvo must respond to Mayor Romero's letter and decide whether to convene the requested community meetings ¹. Without a favorable response, citizen pressure will likely escalate — the Change.org petition accumulates signatures daily and the Salvemos El Morro collective maintains active documentation of the case ²³.

If public hearings are held, they would be the first formal opportunity for residents to present alternatives to the current design. The community has already proposed reducing the roundabout to 12 feet and redirecting funds to the abandoned park instead of the police parking lot ².

With the extreme heat season and the historic drought battering the island, defending every tree in Old San Juan takes on an urgency that goes beyond aesthetics — it's a matter of public health and quality of life.

Sources

¹ NotiCel — Romero le pide al DTOP que convoque a la comunidad sobre proyecto cerca de El Morro ² Salvemos El Morro — salvemoselmorro.com ³ Change.org — Detener la tala de árboles en Viejo San Juan