Bolívar Park is a heritage park located in the centre of Medellín. It is an iconic public space located in an Asset of Cultural Interest area. The famous Cathedral de Villanueva, for example, is located next to the park. The area brings together a variety of mixed-use dwellings, mostly commercial and residential buildings. Most users are senior adults who use the park as a meeting point for socialization.

The Mayor's Office of Medellín developed the PGIIC - Plan de Gestión de la Intervención Integral del Centro (Management Plan for the Integral Intervention of Downtown Medellín) in response to needs identified during the 2012-2015 administration. The plan sets forth guidelines for improving the quality of life for all Downtown residents and the general recovery of public infrastructure.

The 2016-2019 administration, in its Development Plan, established the program Rehabilitation of Public Space and Heritage, specifying the project Junín Consolidation. This project entailed the intervention of urban space in two stages: La Playa to Caracas and Metropolitan Basilica to Bolívar Park.

Key objectives:

• highlight the heritage of the area
• greater priority to pedestrians by reducing the space dedicated to motorised traffic
• provide spaces for cultural activities, resting and meeting points,
• encourage a sense of belonging to the city.

This programme includes improvements focused on consolidating more quality public space to provide additional social and recreation areas within the park. This includes wider perimeter sidewalks to accommodate greater pedestrian flows.

The environment has been improved through the planting of greenery that provides shade, gardens and urban furnishings.

The park follows universal design principles and was designed on a single level to improve wheelability and walkability.

The conception of public space on a single level and the reduction of the vehicle access allowed the park’s footprint to be extended while reducing motorised traffic and noise pollution.

The lead agency for the project is the City of Medellín.

The public space improvement project in downtown Medellín was financed by the Development Plan 2016-2019, which allocated resources to the APP Agency for interventions through the PGIIC (Plan de Gestión de la Intervención Integral del Centro).

Public agencies and organizations Involved with the project without financial commitments:

• Administrative Department of Planning – DAP
• Secretariat of Physical Infrastructure - SIF
• Downtown Management
• Projects Strategies
• Urban Development Company - EDU
• Antioquia Railroad Foundation
• Ministry of Culture

The intervention for the recovery of the facades located in the perimeter of the park were funded by a 30% contribution from the private owner of each asset, with the remaining 70% coming from public resources.

 

The increased size of the park and the integration of natural elements has created a more enjoyable and relaxing space for contemplation, socialization, and recreation, while also highlighting the importance of heritage preservation in the area.

Coordination between different municipal agencies was challenging and disagreements in the design of the heritage area affected the timeline and approval from the Ministry of Culture and the Administrative Department of Planning.

Pre-existing problems including vice, theft, prostitution, and street dwellers are still prevalent in the area and some cases have increased.

The Covid-19 pandemic had an impact on launching the programme.

The Metropolitan Cathedral is an important worship facility for residents of the city and surrounding communities. All the public space that has been developed as part of the park is related to the cathedral and promotes a culture that is centered on heritage and protecting and valuing the asset and its area of influence.