La Pastora Natural Reserve Park +
La Silla Riparian Park

Regenerating an Architectural Lung
through a Forgotten Urban Landmark

The great Rio La Silla Ecological Park, formerly known as La Pastora Park, was born as part of one of the environmental compensation projects for a new and adjacent development, the BBVA Stadium. This involved the renovation, maintenance, and management of a forgotten urban landmark that had been closed for more than 18 years.
Keywords
Innovation
Water Efficiency
Sustainable
Sociability



Master Plan
Urban Design
Landscape Architecure

Size: 200,000 m2
Location: Guadalupe, Mexico
Steel Structures: Garza Ponce
Year:
2013
The old La Pastora Park, located at the foothills of Cerro La Silla, was considered a natural barrier and a focus of problems, diseases, and insecurity by the neighboring districts and sectors.

Now, it is an urban connection filled with plant and animal diversity that has returned to restore the ecological services it once provided. This new urban forest park currently covers 20 hectares and follows 13 km along the Rio La Silla, making it the largest intervened green area in the city.
The now Great Rio La Silla Ecological Park aims to redefine the relationships between the park and its immediate surroundings by valuing Monterrey's scarce green ecosystem as an environmental, cultural, and scenic heritage of the city. The park is developed through the regeneration of the riverbanks, which were carefully restored to adapt to the natural channel and topography, removing additional soil and rocks that had buried the existing century-old trees. Additionally, a "floodable" multipurpose path was provided along both boundaries for pedestrians and cyclists, equipped with basic urban furniture.
This transformation made it a key piece of public parkland, adding to 12 existing parks and 40 neighborhoods in a low-income municipality, providing them with connectivity, sustainable mobility, recreation, and exercise opportunities. 

This has resulted in an open and natural space that has improved the quality of life for residents by integrating their daily routines with this linear riverside park.




Preserve, Recycle, Enhance, Reforest
The architectural project was based on the restoration and recovery of a natural space that had suffered significant deterioration with the main design ideas being to preserve the architectural structure of the park by maintaining the existing circulation system, the configuration of gathering spaces with basic services, and the internal hydrological system; recycle materials and resources by reusing them in the restoration process; enhance the legibility of the park by facilitating users' understanding and orientation within it through an established hierarchy in the walkway system and naming the different areas; and reforest deforested areas with trees of native species already existing in the park.

Located at the foothills of Cerro La Silla and adjacent to the river of the same name, the only living river in the metropolitan area of Monterrey, it has become a sports and cultural landmark that allows Monterrey football to actively participate in the ecological, social, and economic development of the State of Nuevo León.


Connecting Urban Green Spaces

Situated along 13 kilometers, the Linear Ecological Park spans over 130 hectares, serving as a crucial link between 5 public parks in the city. This initiative aims to protect natural resources, promote environmental education, and foster healthy outdoor activities. Notably, it strengthens ecological resilience by restoring riverbanks with native vegetation and implementing stormwater management systems. Furthermore, the park's design encourages community engagement and appreciation for nature, offering recreational areas and educational opportunities.




Sustainable Development
This project encompasses a range of sustainability objectives, including job creation and long-term ecological preservation. By planting over 2,000 trees of native species and restoring a 25-hectare forest area, it contributes to biodiversity conservation and mitigates the effects of climate change. Additionally, the initiative celebrates the region's cultural heritage by preserving historical landmarks and integrating them into the park's design. Overall, the Linear Ecological Park represents a holistic approach to urban planning, balancing environmental conservation, social well-being, and economic growth.

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José Clemente Orozco 329-piso 30, Valle Oriente, 66269 San Pedro Garza García, N.L.
81 8378 4876
contacto@hararilandscape.mx