At the petition of native and foreign residents, Chapala Mayor Joaquin Huerta has given his seal of approval to the blueprints for the International Garden developed at the western extreme of Ajijic’s waterfront Malecón.
During an August 6 meeting with community representatives led by local businessman Tom Thompson, the mayor pledged official protection for the statues, garden, trees and plantings that have been repeatedly targeted by vandals. He agreed to issue a formal notice to home owners whose properties face the park area, warning them that fines will be imposed on anyone caught damaging trees.
Thompson and his supporters suspect that gardeners employed by neighbors have been instructed to poison and radically prune a number of trees to keep them from growing tall enough to obstruct lake views.
The advisories will be turned over to town administrator Hector España for door-to-door distribution by police officers.