SPORTS & PLAY
CHILDREN’ S PLAYGROUND NETWORK
Understanding the topography allows gathering and play areas to be placed in highly visible spots— public spaces where neighbours meet, look out for one another, and strengthen the fabric of community life.
Through landscape design, sustainable urban drainage systems are introduced. The project integrates water management with absorbent soil and permeable paving. Using local materials and labor reduces carbon emissions from transportation while ensuring that construction doubles as a process for training and employment.
The lack of play environments in the peripheral neighbourhoods of Medellín has limited opportunities for recreation and family gatherings. Moreover, the scarcity of natural soil and permeable surfaces has intensified the heat island effect and increased the risk of environmental pollution, instability on hillsides, and runoff flooding near creek basins.
An Infrastructure of Play and Natural Landscapes- This project establishes a system of parks in neighbourhood settings in need of public space. Public plots measuring between 300 and 500 square meters were identified near environmental corridors and neighbourhood centres— some disused, others lacking a defined program. Each park is conceived as a gathering space for families and as a venue with an environmental and recreational purpose, featuring geographies that transform topographical constraints into opportunities for collective space.
Urbanism as a Pedagogical Tool- The parks function as meeting places, play areas, and open classrooms. Designed around topography and natural settings, their layouts define terraces, gardens, and urban living rooms. This system is complemented by playground equipment, urban furniture, and lighting. Each park facilitates universal mobility in high and medium-slope contexts.
Education and Gathering- The architecture turns topographical constraints into opportunities. This adaptation allows each level to act as a balcony overlooking the city, offering a unique perspective and spatial experience while serving as retaining infrastructure on steep slopes. The journey through the site is a playful and educational experience where play occurs in the transition between levels, along ramps, and on paths that integrate the park into its context.
Nature ensures environmental continuity and shapes the public space through layers of vegetation. Smaller species act as the first layer for rainwater absorption and biological stabilizers. Mid-sized species serve as corridors for local fauna, while larger trees create microclimates through natural shade, lowering temperatures and strengthening the connection to the city’ s green infrastructure.
Replicability and Future Perspectives- This model, which integrates neighbourhood structure with public spaces, can be adapted to different contexts and topographies. This network of neighborhood parks is an urban and environmental proposal to build a more equitable city, serving as a cornerstone for social transformation through education, recreation, and community gathering.
Technical Sheet
• Architects: Alcaldía de Medellín
• Area: 48 m ²
• Year: 2026
• Photographs: Israel Restrepo Naranjo
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