Summary
The La Mesa Ecopark is a public park located in Greater Lagro, Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines. It is in the La Mesa Watershed Reservation and near the La Mesa Dam.
| La Mesa Ecopark | |
|---|---|
| La Mesa Resort Zone | |
  The ecopark pond in November 2011 | |
 Approximate boundaries of La Mesa Ecopark are shown in light green. | |
| Location | East Fairview, Greater Lagro, Quezon City, Metro Manila, the Philippines |
| Coordinates | 14°42′43″N 121°04′27.5″E / 14.71194°N 121.074306°E |
| Area | 33 hectares (82 acres) |
| Opened | 1950s |
| Founder | Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System |
| Etymology | La Mesa Watershed Reservation |
| Owned by | Quezon City Parks Development and Administration Department |
| Operated by | La Mesa Ecopark Administration ABS-CBN Foundation (former operator) |
| Visitors | 280,000 (in 2011)[1] |
| Website | former Facebook page |
The park closed "temporarily" on February 12, 2024 after the ABS-CBN Foundation returned management of the park to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System.[2]
History edit
Covering an area of 33 hectares (82 acres) the public park is located along the natural boundary of the La Mesa Watershed Reservation and its elevation is about 40 metres (130 ft) below than the reservoir.[3]
After years of neglect,[4] the park underwent a renovation starting in 1999 under the "Save La Mesa Watershed Project", a collaboration between Bantay Kalikasan, the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS) and the local government of Quezon City.[3] A fund amounting to ₱247 million was raised for the rehabilitation of the park.[5] It was reopened on April 28, 2004 and was renamed as "La Mesa Ecopark".[3]
In 2019, it was proposed that the park be renamed as Gina Lopez Ecopark to commemorate Lingkod Kapamilya Foundation chairperson Gina Lopez who in 1999 established Bantay Kalikasan which had a role in the ecopark's rehabilitation.[6]
In 2024, the ABS-CBN Foundation announced that it was returning management of the park to the MWSS on February 15. Employees will be laid off and the park along with the Nature Reserve with be closed.[2]
On April 8, 2024, the MWSS announced that the park would reopen in June.[7] Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System approved the takeover of the Ecopark's management by Manila Water. “As the gates swing open on Philippine Environment Month and World Environment Day in June, Phase 2 and Phase 3 of the rehabilitation works will continue to complete the revival of the La Mesa Ecopark, and Phase 1 of the repair will prioritize areas that the public can enjoy such as the eco academy pavilion, the museum and building activity centers.” President Jocot de Diost said.[8]
Facilities edit
Among the activities in the park are hiking, mountain-biking, horseback riding, rappelling, zip-lining, fishing, and paddle-boating in the lagoon. The park also has an "Ecotrail" and an vivarium specifically an orchidarium.[4]
The park also hosts a swimming complex which opened in 2011. The previous one was destroyed by Typhoon Ondoy in September 2009. According to a 2011 report, the park had 280,000 visitors in a year.[1]
Gallery edit
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La Mesa Ecopark pond, February 2014 -
A bike loop inside the eco park -
An ashy ground thrush (Geokichla cinerea) endemic to the Philippines, captured in November 2013 inside the eco park
References edit
- ^ a b Villanueva, Rhodina Villanueva (6 March 2011). "Ecopark opens new swimming complex". Philippine Star. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ a b "La Mesa Ecopark 'temporarily closing' as ABS-CBN Foundation ends stewardship". ABS-CBN. 8 February 2024. Retrieved 8 February 2024.
- ^ a b c "PPP Days 2010 - La Mesa Watershed Ecopark" (PDF). Asian Development Bank. 24 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 July 2015. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Gardens and Parks". Quezon City Government. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "Of Saving the La Mesa Watershed: An alliance built on Trust and Love for the Environment". ABS-CBN Lingkod Kapamilya. 25 April 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
- ^ "Belmonte backs renaming La Mesa Ecopark after Gina Lopez". Rappler. 4 September 2019. Retrieved 5 September 2019.
- ^ "La Mesa Ecopark to reopen in June". ABS-CBN. 8 April 2024. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
- ^ "Manila Water gets approval to take over La Mesa Ecopark". Manila Standard. April 9, 2024. Retrieved April 9, 2024.
External links edit
Media related to La Mesa Ecopark at Wikimedia Commons
