The La Mesa Ecopark in Fairview, Quezon City is a favorite weekend destination for many people living in the crowded city. It is perhaps one of the last remaining forested areas in Metro Manila and thankfully, it is still free of urban sprawl.
It was not always that way. Many years ago, the park was not open to the public. It was only opened in 2004 after a rehabilitation effort was undertaken.
A tribute to Ms. Gina Lopez
The untimely passing of Ms. Gina Lopez, a known environmental advocate and long-time chairperson of the ABS-CBN Foundation which directly maintains the La Mesa Ecopark, came as a shock to many.
Ms. Lopez led the rehabilitation of the La Mesa Ecopark together with a few other stakeholders. Here’s hoping that what she started will continue and that the La Mesa Ecopark will remain unspoiled for all of us to enjoy.
The La Mesa Ecopark has been closed since February 2024 but will be reopened in June, according to the Metropolitan Waterworks and Sewerage System (MWSS).
The ABS-CBN Foundation in February handed over its stewardship of the ecopark to the Manila Water Company, which vowed to further improve the park’s facilities as well as focus on environmental awareness.
Here’s our Top 5 list of interesting things to do at the ecopark
1) Go on a picnic. The picnic grounds at the La Mesa Ecopark are perfect for both small and large groups. Some of the picnic tables are free to use, while some, such as the large gazebos and events places, can be rented.
2) Enjoy the gardens. There are a lot of flowers, plants, and of course trees in the park. One can visit the gardens near the stairway going up to a view of the La Mesa dam. Most of the time, many flowers are in bloom.
3) Go jogging. From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., joggers can go to La Mesa Ecopark and pay a minimal fee. The park officially opens at 8 a.m. so this is a perfect window for those who may want to go jogging within the park grounds before the crowd of park visitors come in.
4) Go swimming. The La Mesa Ecopark has two swimming areas which open at 9 a.m. The swimming pools are quite large and well-maintained.
5) Take photos. Photographers and bird watchers often visit the park t take photos of flowers, insects, the pond, etc. However, if you do plan to do a full-blown photo shoot, you may have to pay a certain fee to use the park.
Do visit the park. It will be worth it.
