Home » Projects » Parque Pinos, neighborhood park

Parque Pinos

Location: Barrio Cuba, Hospital, San José, Costa Rica
Year: 2013
Status: Built
Area: 1,077 m²
Sector: Public space, sports and institutional

Parque Los Pinos, stairway to the community hall that closes the route at the south end, Barrio Cuba, San José

Parque Los Pinos, children playing basketball on the multi-use court on the east side of the park, Barrio Cuba, San José

Parque Los Pinos, multi-use court with children and neighborhood houses in the background, an open and safe space, Barrio Cuba, San José

Parque Los Pinos, linear platform toward the children's play area, once disconnected areas, Barrio Cuba, San José

Parque Los Pinos, girls on the swings in the play area to the west, a park the community makes its own, San José

Parque Los Pinos, girls sitting on the green slope under an existing tree that gives shade, Barrio Cuba, San José

Parque Los Pinos, aerial view of the north-south pedestrian connector inside the neighborhood, once a dead-end street, San José

Plan of Parque Los Pinos with the multipurpose court, the linear platform and the play area, Barrio Cuba, San José

Parque Los Pinos before the intervention

BeforeAfter

Slide to see the before and after.

Overview

Parque Pinos is part of the Paletas Urbanas program in the Hospital district, promoted by UNICEF within the Safe Cities for All initiative. The intervention transforms a formerly fenced space at the end of a dead end street into a north south pedestrian connector for the neighborhood. It opens its perimeter and links areas that were previously disconnected.

The main layout organizes two complementary areas, a multipurpose court to the east and a children’s play area to the west, joined by a linear platform shaded by existing trees. At the south end, a stairway facing the community hall closes the route. New lighting extends use into the evening.

Following a participatory workshop with girls from the neighborhood, skating areas were added. The park gives the neighborhood back an open and safe space that the community can make its own.

Credits

Project promoter: ONU HABITAT
International program: “Safe Cities for All” (UN)
Coordinator: Municipalidad de San José
Architectural design: Luis Diego Barahona
Builder: Municipalidad de San José
Institutional partners: Comisión Sembrando Paz en el Distrito Hospital
LDB Arquitectura collaborators: Karina Vindas, Patricia Salas and Rosa Canessa
Photographs: Luis Diego Barahona
Area: 1,077 m²
Cost: US$80,000