Parque El Peral

from A vacant lot to pocket Park

Team: Sustrato, TAT Constructora, Comité Vecinal Rinconada Santa María

Clients: Vecinos de Rinconada Santa María

Planning and Construction Period: 2015

Project Location: Rinconada Santa María, Mexico City

The Park is adjacent to Rinconada Santa María neighbourhood, where loitering and alcoholism are rampant. The neighbourhood conditions allowed access to federal funds earmarked for marginal areas. Initially, the fund was designated for a couple of steel umbrellas and a “green wall” in 150 sq of a former wasteland. However, neighbours, the contractor, and Sustrato designed a program and a collaborative execution plan adjusted to the community’s desires and needs. After six months of collaborative place-making and construction work, the Park includes a more extensive program: a two-storey structure housing a library, two multi-purpose spaces, a rainwater harvesting system for irrigation and sanitation, an outdoor area with a vegetable garden, exercise and rest space. Moreover, Park El Peral hosts peer-to-peer workshops to learn how to cook, dance, build bicycles, and grow plants.