With the aim of revitalizing public life in Jalpa de Méndez, Tabasco, an urban master plan was designed for SEDATU, transforming the city’s most representative public spaces, including the “El Campestre” Recreational Park and the Community Development Center located within it. Led by Bernardo Quinzaños, the project focused on improving sports and recreational infrastructure, fostering a comprehensive renewal of the urban environment.
The initial assessment revealed that public spaces were in a significant state of neglect, and there was a pronounced lack of social assistance facilities at all levels. The intervention aimed to enhance living conditions, reduce the deficit of equipment and public spaces, and stimulate the local economy.
The “El Campestre” Recreational Park has become a vital space for community interaction and entertainment. Its design features a central pavilion with a crossed-arch structure that serves not only as a sculptural element but also as a functional venue for the city’s social and cultural events, such as the annual “Feria de la Butifarra,” concerts, and exhibitions. This versatile space has become a key gathering place, ideal for both informal activities and major celebrations.
The public space program was designed to seamlessly integrate with the pavilion’s iconic sequence of arches and columns, connecting various sports areas and providing a habitable refuge in Tabasco’s tropical, rainy climate. The structure not only offers shade but also features a stepped concrete base that functions as seating for spectators of sporting events, offering a comfortable and sheltered viewing area.
Located within the park, the Community Development Center is a cultural and educational hub that promotes inclusive development opportunities for the local community. Conceived as a habitable sculptural piece, its architectural program includes workshops, multipurpose rooms, a library, an auditorium, and administrative areas. The structure consists of eight monumental concrete panels perforated with semicircular arches. These perforations create the necessary void for an interior garden, which acts as an urban oasis and generates a pleasant microclimate. The central garden serves as the heart of the project, providing a lively space and offering captivating views from within the building.
The overall design seeks to harmoniously integrate with the city’s urban context through the use of pigmented concrete in orange tones, evoking the regional cantera stone found in the balustrades of the main arcade in the historic center.
The construction process facilitated an authentic exchange of knowledge with the local community, blending modern design technologies with artisanal processes to enrich the constructive memory of Tabasco’s landscape. By employing local workers, diverse construction techniques were interwoven, strengthening the project’s connection to its surroundings. This participatory process gave rise to a new architectural language while fostering a sense of accomplishment, pride, and identity within the community.
The “El Campestre” Recreational Park and the Community Development Center together offer the people of Jalpa de Méndez a space for recreation, social interaction, and personal growth, promoting inclusion and civic engagement. This project has become an emblematic symbol of the city and a key reference point for both locals and visitors.
The project was developed as part of SEDATU’s Urban Improvement Program in Jalpa de Méndez, Tabasco.
