Industrial News

Paragon Properties’ road construction efforts in their Punta Verde subdivision in Quepos, Costa Rica have put them directly in the path of a family of White-faced Capuchin monkeys. Capuchin monkeys are often found in nearby Manuel Antonio National Preserve, but seem to have found a comfortable home in Paragon’s Punta Verde subdivision.

According to Paragon Chairman of the Board, Bill Gale, ”In my 40 years of land development in North America, I had never been faced with the idea of displacing a family of animals to meet my construction schedule. Paragon Properties is a family oriented company, and it just didn’t feel right to make the monkeys move from their home.”

Gale asked the Paragon Engineering Team to find a way to redirect their road construction efforts around the monkeys’ 35 foot tall tree home. After a serious overnight planning session, engineers decided to excavate and replant the tree in a nearby protected conservation area. In fact, Paragon has recently enclosed the new monkey preserve behind a custom teak wood fence. The decision was expensive for the company in both time and money, delaying workers by 48 hours from their tight construction schedule.

“Sometimes making a decision requires more than just looking at dollars and cents,” says Gale. “Costa Rica is a country that prides itself on protecting the environment and its indigenous species. Our company has adopted this attitude as we continue to develop homes in this country. Being a good neighbor means extending a helping hand to every living thing in the area, and that includes, men, women, children, and even monkeys too.”