Landscaping the Beach Community

The roadway, be it public or private, is the asphalt, pavement, gravel or dirt pathway in front of your property. This is the area that connects our neighborhood. It is an important part of our community and we are all responsible for ensuring it is a safe place for pedestrians, vehicles and animals.

Developing them with the forward thinking that allows access for firetrucks, police, garbage trucks and various other services we rely on is vital for the success of our beach communities.

It is equally as important that we maintain these roadways. There are a few ways we can help out in our community to ensure that they safe to use. We can make sure our garbage is secured in a raised cage or behind a locked door, so animals are not able to reach it. Scattered garbage is not only an eyesore, but it is harmful for the environment and the animals that we share our community with.  We can work together to repair roadways when private, and lobby our government to provide support for those that are public.  We can work to contain and cut back vegetation that has become overgrown. It is especially important that properties on curved roadways or intersections to maintain plants that hang over the property line, as this vegetation can obstruct a driver’s visibility. Without a clear view of on coming traffic, accidents can occur more frequently.

As we settle into to rainy season, the best time to plant in Panama, it is important to consider mature plant size then setback appropriately from the road. As a general guideline, make sure that the roadway is vertically clear of all obstructions up to 14ft (4.25 m) high. If your shorter bushes have grown over the roadway trim them back, especially at curves or intersections keeping the area safe for both pedestrians and vehicles.

Since we live in a beach community other pathways we must consider and maintain are the public accesses to the ocean. Every beach in Panama is public and it is vital that public access are maintained and safe for those using them. It is everyone’s responsibility to make this a reality. Vegetation should not impede access or pose a threat to those using the path. When vegetation is cut back, clippings should be disposed of properly, rather than being left behind. Furthermore those who use the accesses need to take responsibility for the safety and cleanliness of the access. Leaving behind bottles and cans can cause injury to pedestrians using the access in the future. Leaving behind trash can harm seabird and marine life that will eventually ingest tiny particles of plastic.

Panama is our home. It is our duty to keep it beautiful and safe - not just within the confines of our properties but throughout all of our public spaces, from the roadways to the beaches. Let’s work together to landscape our future. Let’s create a community we can all enjoy, one which others will seek to replicate.

Having a residence in Coronado since 1974, and work experience in the United States as an Urban Planner, Architect, Landscape Architect, and public trail builder, Luno offers these helpful suggestions for public safety and general maintenance related to our public spaces in Panama.