On Thursday, September 14, the first stage of the Mapocho Río Park was inaugurated in Santiago. Designed by the Ministry of Housing and Urbanism, the project is one of the most significant urban works in the Metropolitan Region, spanning a total of 52 hectares and 9 kilometers in length.
The project seeks to reclaim and revitalize the south and west banks of the river by providing a public space for the community with high design and urban amenities standards. This intervention connects the communes of Cerro Navia and Quinta Normal, addressing the region's green space deficit and contributing to territorial equity through high-quality public spaces.
The park consists of six sections, which will open to the community as construction is completed. Construction began in 2020 with an investment of 81 billion pesos, and the sixth and final section is expected to be ready by the third quarter of 2023, creating a continuous 34-kilometer linear park stretching from Lo Barnechea to Cerro Navia.
From its design phase, the project incorporated citizen participation processes to address the interests and needs of neighbors and local communities. These participatory design processes included 12 community dialogues with residents of the aforementioned communes. The design features amenities for sports, recreation, and nature appreciation. This first phase stands out for facilities such as multi-use sports courts, exercise areas, a parkour plaza, bike paths, playgrounds, water features, a picnic area, ping-pong tables, chess tables, viewpoints, and a therapeutic garden, as well as restrooms, changing rooms, and parking areas.
Notably, the project's design is guided by climate change and sustainability criteria to ensure its preservation. Low-water-use native or Mediterranean vegetation will be introduced, alongside the preservation of existing species. It will also feature a well-water-based drip irrigation and maintenance system, including water storage tanks to manage periods of severe drought.
The Mapocho Río Park will be part of the network of 22 urban parks in the Metropolitan Region managed by Parquemet, with designated opening and closing hours. This first stage is located between the Parque de la Familia and Los Suspiros Avenue, featuring three controlled access points at Pasaje 9, Feliz Bulnes, and Gonzalo Bulnes.
This article was written by Victoria Riquelme. The translation is powered by AI.
