Sunday In The Park: Parque Metropolitana La Sabana
Monday 27 July 2009
La Sabana Metropolitan Park (Spanish: Parque
Metropolitano La Sabana), located in downtown San
José, Costa Rica, is the country's biggest and most
important urban park. Covering an area of 0.72 km²,
the park is adjacent to the city's core districts,
offering green space and recreation to its
residents. Several important institutions and
organizations are located inside and in the
surroundings of the park. La Sabana is overly
recognized as "the lungs of San José" by Costa
Ricans
History
The park was officially inaugurated in 1977, though
its origins go back two centuries. San José's parish
priest at the end of XVII century (1783 exactly),
Manuel Antonio Chapuí, donated several plots of land
in Mata Redonda, "in order to favour Costa Rican's
interests". Since that moment the area will house
the current park was used for recreation and sports
activities.
Costa Rica's first president, Juan Mora Fernández,
and other josefino personalities devoted themselves
to provide the park with several dispositions with
the aim of preserving this green area legacy
For more than 150 years the park developed its
characteristic vegetation, spurred by planting
campaigns from the citizenship. Although in 1930
this proyect was halted, when the government decided
to locate the country's first international airport
within the park area. La Sabana International
Airport worked for 44 years, till the inauguration
of current Juan Santamaría International Airport.
During 1960s decade the idea of turn La Sabana into
San José's lungs was taking up again. With that
goal, trees, shrubs and grass were planting. It will
be in 1977, during Daniel Oduber Administration that
La Sabana was officially classified as Metropolitan
Park. More recently, La Sabana had been declared
National Architectural Heritage, by Executive Decree
29305-C, dated February 23, 2001.
Landmarks
La Sabana's most prominent building wwas the
country's national stadium, which was tore down last
year and construction of a new and modern stadium is
underway where the old stadium was located.
An artificial lake, several sports fields, running
and skating tracks and a shooting range are inside
its boundaries. But also surrounding the park,
several institutions have their main offices. Costa
Rica's main electricity company and the Comptroller
General are some examples
Inside Costa Rica visited the park on Sunday 26 July
2009, between 10am and 1pm.
Protecting against the possibility of being infected
or spreading infection?
Our Husky mascot at home in the pine trees at the
northwest edge of the park.
Chinese steel workers at the new national stadium
under construction.
What the stadium is supposed to look like when
finished sometime next year.
The part is slowly being surrounded by high rise
residential buildings.
Future star to the Seleccion - Costa Rica's national
soccer team.
Dog adoption is part of the Sunday activities at the
park.
Preparing for a canopy tour.
A pick up game of basketball is for everyone.
Anyone know the way out of the park?
Agua de Pipa, a refreshing drink.
Watching over the parked cars.
Finding some solitude among the crowd.
There can be no fishing in the lake without worms.
The maple leaf forever.
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