They turned the unfinished airport site into one of the largest urban parks on Earth,
Lake Texcoco Ecological Park — 14,000 hectares (twice the size of Manhattan) of restored lakes, wetlands, and green space.
🌱 Nature wins:
600 hectares of lakes & wetlands restored
Habitat for 370+ species, including the endangered axolotl
Natural carbon sink capturing 1.4M tons of CO₂ annually
👨👩👧👦 People win:
Basketball courts, football pitches, gyms, picnic areas, camping spots
Bus routes connecting underserved neighborhoods to green space
Jobs, tourism, and a new urban identity
This is urban planning at its boldest, turning stranded infrastructure into natural capital that cools the city, restores biodiversity, and improves quality of life.
The big takeaway?
Sometimes the most visionary project isn’t the one you build… it’s the one you reimagine.
📌 PS: Found this inspiring?
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Credit: Oliver Bolton
