Villa Dolores Park

Here we are, in the heart of Montevideo, entering the Villa Dolores Park. As you can see, it is an open green space, but the property has a history of more than a century that completely transformed the landscape of the neighborhood. History This place was born at the end of the 19th century, in 1894, as a private initiative of the couple Alejo Rossell and Rius together with Dolores Pereira de Rossell —after whom the property and the neighborhood take their name. It began as a private farm and collection of animals and plants, until 1919 when it passed into the hands of the city government. For almost a century it functioned as the classic Municipal Zoo of Montevideo, housing thousands of specimens during its busiest time. With the turn of the century and the evolution of animal welfare criteria, the traditional zoo permanently closed its doors in 2014 to begin a long process of reconversion. Present Today the space functions as an urban public park integrated into the community. To achieve this opening, the old exterior walls and the historic entrance façade were demolished, visually and physically connecting the property with the urban fabric. During our tour we found three main areas: Friendship Park: Opened in 2015 and subsequently expanded, it is a milestone for being the first space in the city designed with universal accessibility, allowing children to…

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