Que Bonita La Mexicana

Lomas de Santa Fe, CDMX

Parque La Mexicana, Lomas de Santa Fe, CDMX.

La Mexicana Bonita

One of the pleasant surprises being back in Mexico City is the wealth of new projects worthy of a visit. One of the most striking I have visited so far is the seven year old park, La Mexicana, in Lomas de Santa Fe, a western suburb of the capital.

Parque La Mexicana and Paseo de los Arquitectos, Lomas de Santa Fe.

La Méxicana, carved out of a former sand quarry, is a welcome addition to the region's parks and open spaces. Situated between two ridge lines that have been redeveloped with pricey and sometimes architecturally striking high-rises, the park is a good example of what can be achieved through adaptive reuse of a quarry that has run its course as a source of sand for the city's construction.

Like Brooklyn Bridge Park and other waterfront improvements initiated during Mike Bloomberg's three terms as mayor of New York City, La Mexicana has all of the hallmarks of the public-private partnerships that made possible some of New York's greatest contemporary amenities. Indeed, as conceptualized, 70 percent of the total land area would be used as park land while 30 percent would be dedicated to the construction of 3,000 housing units, built by developers who collaborated in the construction and participate in the maintenance of public facilities.

Interés Social De Los Ricos

While the skeptics call these quid pro quos to developers focused on building huge developments for the upper classes, I call them smart local solutions that bring important amenities to cities that can scantly afford to redevelop sites that now boast the likes of La Mexicana.

Welcome bike and pedestrian infrastructure in La Mexicana. The well-maintained park will only improve as the young trees mature.

I also like the way La Mexicana's architects Mario Schjetnan and Víctor Márquez have activated the space with amenities including an amphitheater, a lake and niño​-friendly play areas. The green roof on an adjacent Costco seems to extend the breadth of the park as well as demonstrates the commitment to sustainability of the architects.

A sustainable green roof hides an adjacent Costco superstore, La Mexicana, Lomas de Santa Fe.

In all, award-winning Parque La Mexicana features 100,000 square meters encompassing two artificial lakes, wetlands, lawns, futbol fields, basketball courts, skate and rollerblade parks, a dog park, paths for walking, jogging and biking, a central fountain and an amphitheater. The park also incorporates rainwater harvesting and solar-powered lighting.

Matzo Ball Soup En Una Cazuela

While some purist urbanists may bristle at the large underground parking garage and restaurant row in the center of the park, I have mellowed since last month and see these amenities as welcome trade offs that enabled Santa Fe to realize the park itself. If you don't want to eat at Klein's - a Mexican Jewish deli, Neveria Roxy  or one of the other higher-end establishments, don't.

Klein's, a well-established Mexican Jewish deli in Parque La Mexicana. 

The simple fact is, their presence offers visitors to the park good places to eat, while their leases help cover the cost of maintaining the park for the general public.

Restaurant Row at Parque La Mexicana sits above an underground parking garage.

Tránsito y Tráfico

Given the traffic in Santa Fe and CDMX generally, no one would call La Mexicana easily accessible by public transportation. Nonetheless, as with everywhere else in Mexico, La Mexicana is accessible by local peseros (collectivos) that travel between Cablebús linéa 3 in Santa Fe as well as Tacubaya in CDMX, Bosques and Lomas de Chapultepec.

Biblioteca Vasconcelos 

Since I have never been one to write a piece without throwing in everything including the kitchen sink, here goes. Another architectural marvel I have been able to take in during my time in CDMX is the terrific Mexican modernist Biblioteca Vasconcelos by Mexican architect Alberto Kalach, and its surrounding gardens. 

Biblioteca Vasconcelos.

The view from Biblioteca Vasconcelos on a clear day.

Having frequently visited the whimsical and beautiful Kiosko Morisco in the park in nearby Santa María la Ribera, I am a little ashamed that the library had not been on my radar earlier. Better late than never and evidence of the breadth of the often beautiful Mexican capital. 

Kiosko Morisco, Santa María la Ribera.

¡Disfruta!

With so much to see and do and eat in CDMX, it may be hard for some to justify the schlep to Lomas de Santa Fe and Santa María la Ribera. Mis dos pesos (which doesn't translate as 'my two cents'), schlep to La Mexicana, preferably by Cablebús linéa 3 and a pesero. To get to Biblioteca Vasconcelos, Metro, Metrobús and Ecobici, three important pillars of CDMX's Movilidad Integrada get you there.

Yours in transit,

Joel

Joel Epstein is a New Yorker and an advocate for public transit, livable cities and public space.

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