Parque México
Encyclopedia
The Parque México
The Parque México (Mexico Park, also known as the Parque San Martín, is a large urban park located in Colonia Hipódromo
in the La Condesa area of Mexico City
. It is recognized by its Art Deco
architecture and decor as well as being one of the larger green areas in the city. The park was built in the 1920s, when its surrounding neighborhood of Colonia Hipódromo was being established. It is the former site of a horse race track on an hacienda
that belonged to the Countess of Miravalle. When this part of the hacienda was being partitioned and redeveloped into a housing area, environmental laws at the time did not permit housing on the former track. Instead it was turned into the current park. Today, Parque México is not only the center of Colonia Hipódromo, it is also the center of the entire La Condesa section of the city.
or Parque España. More traditional parks in Mexico City have paths that cut diagonally through them, but Parque Mexico's paths are more “organic” and less rigid, wandering around the various attractions. The park hosts various cultural events, neighborhood gatherings and considered to be fashionable place to meet people. One can see children playing soccer and riding bikes while adults stroll or exercise or just relax on the benches.
The park contains a number of other fountains, ponds, waterfalls and light posts that simulate tree trunks. A large pond or small lake is inhabited by ducks and swan
s. Many of the trees and other plants are native to humid areas of the Mediterranean such as Lebanese cypress
, mimosa
s, and palms. There is also more exotic flora such as bamboo
. Some of the existing trees were planted when the park was established. The clock tower is Art Deco with ironwork and bells to mark the hour. In the past, the clock tower played classical music to mark the hour.
The best known feature is the Teatro al Aire Libre Lindbergh (Lindbergh Open Air Theater), which consists of five monumental pillars, topped with marquesinas and surrounded by a serpentine pergola. There is also a fountain with a sculpture of a woman with large jars, from which the water flows. This was created by José María Hernández Urbina. The five pillars define the stage area, which also contains a four-section relief/mural by Roberto Montenegro
, called “Alegoría al Teatro.
The park not only serves as the center of Colonia Hipodromo, it is also the defining element of the “La Condesa” zone of the city, which consists of Colonias Condesa, Hipódromo and Hipódromo Condesa
. The three colonias are often confused with one another, and simply referred to as La Condesa. The park is also considered to be “lungs” of the Condesa area.
The park has been recognized by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), as part of the heritage of the city.
When the nearest section to the track of the old hacienda was being developed, it was decided to turn the racetrack into a park, with the colonia centered on and built around it. This was the idea of José Luis Cuevas. This made some of the main streets of Colonia Hipódromo curved, around the park/track with others leading to the park. This is unique in Mexico City and distinguishes Hipodromo from the other colonias of La Condesa, Colonia Condesa and Colonia Hipódromo Condesa.
It was the first modern park, created with an architectural design. It copies many of the elements of European gardens, such as ponds and walkways. The park was designed by architect Leonardo Noriega and engineer Javier Stávoli, who took advantage of the unusually large size of the park to divide it into sections for different activities.
There are also tensions among users of the park over the presence of household dogs. One of the problems concerns the lack of control some owners have over their animals, but the more serious problem is the feces left behind. The problem has spurred rumors passed along via Facebook and Twitter that some are leaving poisoned meatballs in the park.
In 2010, the city government installed WiFi
service in the park, free for use. It is among the 600 public spaces in which the city has installed free “hotspots.”
The Parque México (Mexico Park, also known as the Parque San Martín, is a large urban park located in Colonia Hipódromo
Colonia Hipódromo
Colonia Hipódromo is a colonia west of the historic center of Mexico City in the Cuauhtémoc borough. It is one of three colonias that are jointly known as “La Condesa.” The colonia and the La Condesa area is centered on Parque México, a large park built on a former private racetrack belonging to...
in the La Condesa area of Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
. It is recognized by its Art Deco
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
architecture and decor as well as being one of the larger green areas in the city. The park was built in the 1920s, when its surrounding neighborhood of Colonia Hipódromo was being established. It is the former site of a horse race track on an hacienda
Hacienda
Hacienda is a Spanish word for an estate. Some haciendas were plantations, mines, or even business factories. Many haciendas combined these productive activities...
that belonged to the Countess of Miravalle. When this part of the hacienda was being partitioned and redeveloped into a housing area, environmental laws at the time did not permit housing on the former track. Instead it was turned into the current park. Today, Parque México is not only the center of Colonia Hipódromo, it is also the center of the entire La Condesa section of the city.
Description
The park is located on Avenida México and Calle de Michoacán in Colonia Hipódromo, only two blocks from Avenida Insurgentes, one of the city’s main arteries. It was the first modern park, created with an architectural design. It copies many of the elements of European gardens, such as ponds and walkways. It has an extension of nine hectares in a elliptical design. The park differs from other major parks such as the Alameda CentralMexico City Alameda Central
Alameda Central is a public municipal park in downtown Mexico City, adjacent to the Palacio de Bellas Artes, between Juarez Avenue and Hidalgo Avenue.-Description:...
or Parque España. More traditional parks in Mexico City have paths that cut diagonally through them, but Parque Mexico's paths are more “organic” and less rigid, wandering around the various attractions. The park hosts various cultural events, neighborhood gatherings and considered to be fashionable place to meet people. One can see children playing soccer and riding bikes while adults stroll or exercise or just relax on the benches.
The park contains a number of other fountains, ponds, waterfalls and light posts that simulate tree trunks. A large pond or small lake is inhabited by ducks and swan
Swan
Swans, genus Cygnus, are birds of the family Anatidae, which also includes geese and ducks. Swans are grouped with the closely related geese in the subfamily Anserinae where they form the tribe Cygnini. Sometimes, they are considered a distinct subfamily, Cygninae...
s. Many of the trees and other plants are native to humid areas of the Mediterranean such as Lebanese cypress
Cupressus sempervirens
Cupressus sempervirens, the Mediterranean Cypress is a species of cypress native to the eastern Mediterranean region, in northeast Libya, southeast Greece , southern Turkey, Cyprus, Northern Egypt, western Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Malta, Italy, western Jordan, and also a disjunct population in...
, mimosa
Mimosa
Mimosa is a genus of about 400 species of herbs and shrubs, in the subfamily Mimosoideae of the legume family Fabaceae. The generic name is derived from the Greek word μιμος , meaning "mimic."...
s, and palms. There is also more exotic flora such as bamboo
Bamboo
Bamboo is a group of perennial evergreens in the true grass family Poaceae, subfamily Bambusoideae, tribe Bambuseae. Giant bamboos are the largest members of the grass family....
. Some of the existing trees were planted when the park was established. The clock tower is Art Deco with ironwork and bells to mark the hour. In the past, the clock tower played classical music to mark the hour.
The best known feature is the Teatro al Aire Libre Lindbergh (Lindbergh Open Air Theater), which consists of five monumental pillars, topped with marquesinas and surrounded by a serpentine pergola. There is also a fountain with a sculpture of a woman with large jars, from which the water flows. This was created by José María Hernández Urbina. The five pillars define the stage area, which also contains a four-section relief/mural by Roberto Montenegro
Roberto Montenegro
Roberto Montenegro Nervo was a Mexican painter, illustrator, and stage designer....
, called “Alegoría al Teatro.
The park and its surroundings
The park is the center of Colonia Hipódromo, which was built around it. Most of the colonia’s streets follow the lines of or lead to the park, and the houses that surround the park match the park’s Art Deco style. Around the park are a number of important architectural examples from the 1920s such as the Edificio San Martín, also called the Edificio México. The building is important because it retains classic architectural features prevalent in the 1930s, such as the bedrooms having the best views, rather than the living room. This building was restored between 1998 and 2001 by architect Carlos Duclaud, when it was almost completely in ruins.The park not only serves as the center of Colonia Hipodromo, it is also the defining element of the “La Condesa” zone of the city, which consists of Colonias Condesa, Hipódromo and Hipódromo Condesa
Colonia Hipódromo Condesa
Colonia Hipódromo Condesa is a colonia or neighborhood located west of the historic center of Mexico City. The colonia is part of the “La Condesa” area of the city, which also includes Colonia Condesa and Colonia Hipódromo. This colonia is better known popularly as part of La Condesa, as it shares...
. The three colonias are often confused with one another, and simply referred to as La Condesa. The park is also considered to be “lungs” of the Condesa area.
The park has been recognized by the Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH), as part of the heritage of the city.
History
The park was created at the same time as Colonia Hipódromo in the 1920s. The entire La Condesa area, along with Colonia Roma, was part of a hacienda of the Countess (condesa) of Miravalle. The Countess held horse races on her property, where Parque Mexico is now. The hacienda was sold and developed bit by bit until all that remained was the race track, which could not be developed into residential units because of environmental laws.When the nearest section to the track of the old hacienda was being developed, it was decided to turn the racetrack into a park, with the colonia centered on and built around it. This was the idea of José Luis Cuevas. This made some of the main streets of Colonia Hipódromo curved, around the park/track with others leading to the park. This is unique in Mexico City and distinguishes Hipodromo from the other colonias of La Condesa, Colonia Condesa and Colonia Hipódromo Condesa.
It was the first modern park, created with an architectural design. It copies many of the elements of European gardens, such as ponds and walkways. The park was designed by architect Leonardo Noriega and engineer Javier Stávoli, who took advantage of the unusually large size of the park to divide it into sections for different activities.
Renovation
Since it was established in the 1920s, the park has degraded over time. In 2008, renovation work was carried out on the park and other green areas in the La Condesa zone. In Parque Mexico, renovation included a treatment plant, an irrigation system, rejuvenating the garden areas, better lighting and restoration work on the Lindbergh Theater. However, not all residents were happy with the renovation work, especially in relation to the green areas. Some blame the city for not consulting with them about changes first and not sharing information about the renovation work. One point of conflict is whether or not to allow people to walk on the grass.There are also tensions among users of the park over the presence of household dogs. One of the problems concerns the lack of control some owners have over their animals, but the more serious problem is the feces left behind. The problem has spurred rumors passed along via Facebook and Twitter that some are leaving poisoned meatballs in the park.
In 2010, the city government installed WiFi
WIFI
WIFI is a radio station broadcasting a brokered format. Licensed to Florence, New Jersey, USA, the station is currently operated by Florence Broadcasting Partners, LLC.This station was previously owned by Real Life Broadcasting...
service in the park, free for use. It is among the 600 public spaces in which the city has installed free “hotspots.”