Have you thought of taking a break after a long day at work or a stressful week at university? If you need a break from the city’s high-rises and traffic, La Mesa Eco Park is the perfect escape. With lush trees, benches, and scenic paths, it offers a refreshing place to relax in nature.
Experience the Environment of La Mesa Eco Park
La Mesa Eco Park, located in Greater Lagro, Quezon City, spans approximately 33 hectares along the La Mesa Watershed Reservation. This public recreation area serves as a living laboratory for schoolchildren and a great venue for family bonding and picnics.
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The Quezon City Local Government and Manila Water Company now manage the park, which reopened on June 29, 2024, after extensive renovations. Once abandoned, it became La Mesa Eco Park in 2004, offering Quezon City residents a green escape. This reopening ushers in a new era, reinforcing its role as the city’s last lung through the BiodiverCity campaign, which highlights its rich biodiversity.
Activities and Recreation
The Eco Park offers a range of outdoor activities for all ages, including nature walks, jogging, and birdwatching in its lush landscapes. The park’s slight inclines and abundant trees create a refreshing atmosphere.
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Visitors can enjoy wall climbing (P199), rappelling (P150), and a paintball arena (P599 per person, including gear and 100 bullets). Archery Tag is also available for added fun for P50 for 4 arrows, and P100 for 10 arrows bis
For snacks, a small food park serves items like siomai and shawarma, and guests can bring their own food (no single-use plastics). Nipa huts are available for rent, starting at P500 per day.
The park is open from Tuesdays to Sundays, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., with an admission fee of P20. Quezon City residents enter free with a valid ID. Online reservations are required, with a maximum of 1,000 slots daily.
The recent reopening only covers the first phase of the park. In the coming months, more facilities are expected to open, including hiking trails, a wetland habitat, a tropical flowering field, children’s playgrounds, canopy walks, and more picnic areas.
Final dates for these openings have yet to be announced, so visitors should stay tuned for updates.
Conservation Initiatives
La Mesa Eco Park actively supports conservation through the Save La Mesa Watershed Project, which protects the watershed from degradation.The park features gardens like an orchidarium, bromeliad garden, and cactus and succulent garden, providing habitats for diverse species.
Photo: https://outoftownblog.com/la-mesa-eco-park/
The park hosts diverse birds, butterflies, and insects, letting visitors observe them in their natural habitat and learn their ecological roles. Educational programs and guided tours further enhance awareness of conservation efforts.
Investing in eco parks helps combat climate change and promote a healthier future. Likewise, La Mesa Eco Park proves the value of urban green spaces by providing a refuge for relaxation while supporting education and conservation.
The Importance of Eco Parks
The climate crisis has never been more apparent to Filipinos than in 2024, with extreme weather conditions impacting daily life. From record-breaking heat indices during the summer months to unprecedented storms, the need for green spaces has become increasingly urgent. Eco parks play a crucial role in mitigating heat effects by acting as natural air conditioners, reducing urban temperatures through shade and moisture release.
The UN estimates that heat-related deaths among people over 65 have risen by about 85% in the past two decades, while frequent heat waves now affect 25% of all children. By 2050, this could rise to nearly 100%. Green spaces are essential for carbon absorption, ecosystem protection, and providing safe recreational environments, ultimately reducing stress and heat-related illnesses.