RECREATION IN GENERAL PICO

General Pico is a modern city, but still has the recreational customs of an ancient town. It is very common to see native people enjoying a barbecue by the roadside, under the shadow of an eucalyptus or walking through one of the beautiful avenues the city has, in which you can find different amenities like a health circuit, carrousels, swings, gardens that are in blossom all year long, the auditorium, etc.
Another custom is to attend cultural and folk places like "El Viejo Galpón", a place for peñas (folk clubs), meetings, shows, and different performances related to criollo customs.
For adventurous people, during the weekend there is flying club offering different options like: parachuting exhibitions and first flights, car racetrack, horse racetrack, recreational park with a lagoon suitable for nautical sports, such as canoeing, water ski, Windsurf, sailing and fishing (carp, catfish, mackerel).

PLACES TO VISIT
Delfín Pérez Recreational Park
The "Benicio Delfín Pérez" Recreational Park is located in the SE of the city, on the extension of San Martín Ave., and 5 km from the downtown. One part of the this lagoon is 150 hectares and its average depth is 4 m, while the other part is 100 hectares.

Delfín Pérez Recreational Park.

There are two sectors, one is municipal and the other belongs to the Club de Caza, Pesca y Náutica (a club to practice hunting, fishing and nautical sports). The club has an important infrastructure, with hot water, showers, mud huts, 25 new grills and a forested surface with 2,000 plants of different species, boat and board storage, house for the caretaker and his family, toolshed, camping area with electric light and drinking water, candy and refreshments stand, and a storehouse. Besides, there is a marina and a boat ramp. The club provides its members with 3 boats and 5 canoes, and a lifeboat with outboard motor. Main activities: o Fishing: mackerel, carp and catfish. o Nautical Sports: canoeing, water ski, windsurf.
The club is situated in a kind of peninsula, which divides lagoon into two parts the. The deepest part has a slow flow, and due to the proliferation of reeds and other water species, it is densely populated with more than 50 registered fowls, which reproduce easily in their natural environment.
The municipal sector has 15 grills, restrooms without showers and a well-stocked storehouse. You can freely camp and make use of the premises for free. 24 hour watchman.

General Pico Fly Club
Modern and attractive complex, with information office, beautiful trees, camping area with restrooms and grills, swimming pool and paddle courts. First flights are carried out on weekends, or during the week with permission of the premises' caretaker.
History. In General Pico aviation was practically born with the Town. Its history began with the airplane that piloted Ramón Borthiry, a fragile aircraft, which was later submerged under the sand in a country of Vértiz.

Equestrian Club
It is situated in a vast country plenty of trees; it has everything you need to practice equestrian sports. Besides, there are restrooms, grills and a large party room. It is located in the eastern access, in the extension of 24th Street and highway Nº 1 (formerly, Nº 143).

Sports
Five main clubs coexist in the city, from the old "Pico Football Club", to the young Club Ferro Carril Oeste. The other clubs are: Club A. y Cultural Argentino, Club Atlético Costa Brava, and Club Sportivo Independiente. All of them have modern and functional premises, where you can practice all kind of sports as many local, provincial, regional and national tournaments are held there.

WALKS AND PARKS
Immigrants' walk
It is situated near the railway and on one of the sidewalks of 21st Street. This walk is eight blocks long and the gardens are in blossom all year long; other amenities are: benches, swings, carrousels, artistic fountain, auditorium, etc.
It constitutes a permanent homage to the immigrants that put their effort at the service of local progress.

Immigrants' walk

Architect Alberto Hugo Costi's walk
It was opened on November 11, 1993. The name pays homage to the first architect and town planner who arrived in the northern area of La Pampa and graduated in the Universidad Nacional de Santa Fe (National University of Santa Fe) in l968, and settled in General Pico in 1971. He held office as Secretary of Public Works during the administration of Mayor Carlos Alberto Verna (engineer), and projected the pedestrian walk and very important works in this city.
It is situated on 19th Street, and goes from the 10th to the 2nd Street. It is a relaxing walk, with many trees and a very well-designed park, with benches, paths, bridges, etc.

CULTURAL PROGRAMS
Maracó Cultural Center
It is located at 546 17th Street, and accommodates the "Maracó Regional Museum", a rich "Art Gallery", and the "El Viejo Galpón" (a folk club for meetings and performances). There is also a room for exhibitions, recitals, seminars, artists and writers' meetings, shows, etc., ahich are held during the weekends.

Maracó Cultural Center

El Chalet de los Ingleses (English People's Cottage)
It was built in the foundational period of General Pico by the owners of Ferrocarriles Oeste y Sur (Western and Southern Railway). During many decades, it hosted the executive personnel of that company. At present, it was refurbished and it is occupied by the Instituto Superior de Bellas Artes "Ciudad de General Pico" (fine arts institute). The huge gardens lay on "natural" banks. It is a delight to behold.

English People's Cottage

OTHER SPOTS
Municipality Building
This building is called Municipal palace due to its impressiveness. It is located on San Martín Ave., between the 9th and the 11th Streets, and is plenty of trees and has a well-cared park.

Municipality Building

Iglesia Nuestra Señora de la Merced (Our Lady of Mercy Church) Situated on the 8th Street, between the 9th and the11th Streets. It is an imposing construction in which its features extols the spirituality of the place, with stained-glass windows, paints and sculptures, which turn the building in one of the most beautiful churches in La Pampa, which overwhelms the visitors in a particular way.

Pampean Tree Nursery or Williamson Tree Nursery
With a surface of 4 hectares, it is the stage for one of the most valuable scientific experiences performed in the country, by which the nature of the soil was changed and it produced hundreds of new species that today are planted in the whole territory of the Province. It was declared "Protected Area" pursuant to Law 1355, enacted by La Pampa's Provincial Government.

The Pedestrian Street
It was inaugurated on November 4, 1990 by the Mayor Carlos Alberto Verna (engineer) and projected and designed by the architect and town planner Alberto H. Costi.

Free Trade Zone
Another important place in the city is the La Pampa Free Trade Zone, with an International Airport (information in the "The Province"), inaugurated on November 11, 1999.

SCHEDULED CIRCUITS
Ecological Circuit
This thematic circuit proposes to visit the recycling plant of urban waste R.R.U. (Urban Waste Recycling), in which you can see the waste selection area, the work area, the smelting of aluminum canes, the forestal nursery, where floriculture activities take place, and the warm compost plant.
This circuit is organized by the Municipal Office of Tourism, and you can obtain more information by calling the Tel. (02302) 43-4373, or going to 451 16th Street.

Historical Circuit
This circuit aims to reconstruct the history of General Pico, through anecdotes, tales, photographs and videos of past times. The circuit takes 12 blocks. It is also organized by the Municipal Tourism Office. More information on (02302) 43-4373.

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