O'Higgins Park (Spanish: Parque O'Higgins, formerly known as Parque Cousiño), with an area of around 75 hectares (190 acres), is Santiago, Chile's second largest public park after Metropolitan Park. It is located in the center of the capital, in the Santiago Commune.
The park, named after Bernardo O'Higgins (one of Chile's founding fathers), is a popular place for families to visit during weekends and holidays, especially during the national holiday on September 18, when a number of fondas and ramadas —traditional places for dancing, eating and drinking— are open to the public for a few days.
Between 2011 and 2019, O’Higgins Park hosted the annual music festival Lollapalooza Chile.
Old pond in Parque O'Higgins; nineteenth century oil painting by Alberto Orrego Luco
Amusement park Fantasilandia, located in one of the corners of Parque O'Higgins.
Parque O'Higgins esplanada.
The present-day O’Higgins Park is the result of gradual evolution over its history. The site, originally called Pampilla or El Llano, was a flat open space between the modern-day Santa Rosa and San Ignacio streets, where people gathered to celebrate Fiestas Patrias, Chile's national day.
Aerial view of O'Higgins Park, looking northeast. (circa 2004)
The government bought the land in 1845 and used the southern portion for state buildings, including a jail. In 1870, it gave the northern portion of the terrain to Chilean politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist Luis Cousiño. Inspired by the parks he saw in Europe, he decided to create one in his own city and contracted French landscaper Guillermo Renner to shape it into parkland. The park was inaugurated by his widow Isidora Goyenechea in 1873 and was named Parque Cousiño in his honor.[1]
Movistar Arena
In 1956, work began on an indoor stadium inside O’Higgins Park which would eventually become the largest covered arena in Chile. Construction started but then stalled, leaving only the bare structure of the stadium complete until 1999, when the roof was finally completed. After further delays, the stadium at last opened to the public in 2006 as the Arena Santiago. In 2008, Telefonica’s cellphone division Movistar bought the naming rights and the stadium became the Movistar Arena.[2]
In 2000 the Arena Santiago in O’Higgins Park played host to a tie tennis match between Chile and Argentina as part of the Davis Cup. During the second singles match between Nicolás Massú and Mariano Zabaleta, the crowd reacted violently, throwing objects on the court and forcing Argentina to withdraw.[5]
In November 2010, musician and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell announced that the first overseas version of the rock festival would take place in O’Higgins Park, Santiago. The inaugural Lollapalooza Chile took place on 2–3 April 2011 and drew a crowd of about 100,000, with venues including the park's Movistar Arena, La Elipse, and La Cupula Theater. Lollapalooza Chile has returned annually since then, most recently on 16–18 March 2018.[6]
The Movistar Arena, one of the largest multi-use stadia in South America. Campo de Marte, also known as La Elipse (Spanish: the ellipse), where a military parade takes place every September 19 for the Day of the Glories of the Army. El Pueblito (Spanish: little village), where visitors can find shops, craft stalls and museums, including the Museum of the Huaso and the Insect and Snail Museum. Fantasilandia, the biggest amusement park in Chile, located in the park's northwestern corner. Olympic pool[7]
There is also a public pool, a roller skating field, a skate park, tennis courts, a soccer field, a theater and an artificial lake, with walking trails crossing the length of the park.
References
^When Parque Cousiño became Parque O’Higgins 2014-10-06 at the Wayback Machine sentidoscomunes.cl September 14, 2013, retrieved on March 21, 2015
^El "elefante blanco" que se convirtió en epicentro musical economiaynegocios.cl May 09, 2011, retrieved on March 22, 2015
^La convulsionada visita del Papa Juan Pablo II a Chile guoteca.cl retrieved on March 22, 2015
^La batalla del parque O'Higgins El Pais, Madrid, April 05, 1987, retrieved on March 22, 2015
^Tennis chiefs consider sanctions after Davis Cup fiasco The Independent, 10 April 200, sourced 22 March 2015.
^Los imperdibles de Lollapalooza Chile 2018 cooperativa.cl March 17, 2018, retrieved on March 17, 2018
^Prmera piedra de la piscina olmpica latercera June 08, 2012, retrieved on March 22, 2015
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parque O'Higgins.
higgins, park, spanish, parque, higgins, formerly, known, parque, cousiño, with, area, around, hectares, acres, santiago, chile, second, largest, public, park, after, metropolitan, park, located, center, capital, santiago, commune, parque, higginstypeurban, pa. O Higgins Park Spanish Parque O Higgins formerly known as Parque Cousino with an area of around 75 hectares 190 acres is Santiago Chile s second largest public park after Metropolitan Park It is located in the center of the capital in the Santiago Commune Parque O HigginsTypeUrban ParkLocationSantiago ChileCoordinates33 27 59 S 70 39 40 W 33 46639 S 70 66111 W 33 46639 70 66111Area75 hectaresCreated1873Operated bySantiagoStatusOpenThe park named after Bernardo O Higgins one of Chile s founding fathers is a popular place for families to visit during weekends and holidays especially during the national holiday on September 18 when a number of fondas and ramadas traditional places for dancing eating and drinking are open to the public for a few days Between 2011 and 2019 O Higgins Park hosted the annual music festival Lollapalooza Chile Contents 1 History 1 1 Movistar Arena 1 2 Religious events 1 3 Davis Cup controversy 1 4 Lollapalooza Chile 2 Infrastructure 3 References 4 External linksHistory Edit Old pond in Parque O Higgins nineteenth century oil painting by Alberto Orrego Luco Amusement park Fantasilandia located in one of the corners of Parque O Higgins Parque O Higgins esplanada The present day O Higgins Park is the result of gradual evolution over its history The site originally called Pampilla or El Llano was a flat open space between the modern day Santa Rosa and San Ignacio streets where people gathered to celebrate Fiestas Patrias Chile s national day Aerial view of O Higgins Park looking northeast circa 2004 The government bought the land in 1845 and used the southern portion for state buildings including a jail In 1870 it gave the northern portion of the terrain to Chilean politician entrepreneur and philanthropist Luis Cousino Inspired by the parks he saw in Europe he decided to create one in his own city and contracted French landscaper Guillermo Renner to shape it into parkland The park was inaugurated by his widow Isidora Goyenechea in 1873 and was named Parque Cousino in his honor 1 Movistar Arena Edit In 1956 work began on an indoor stadium inside O Higgins Park which would eventually become the largest covered arena in Chile Construction started but then stalled leaving only the bare structure of the stadium complete until 1999 when the roof was finally completed After further delays the stadium at last opened to the public in 2006 as the Arena Santiago In 2008 Telefonica s cellphone division Movistar bought the naming rights and the stadium became the Movistar Arena 2 Religious events Edit On 19 December 1926 the Church in Chile used Cousino Park for a ceremony to crown an image of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Chile s patron saint led by Benedetto Aloisi Masella the papal nuncio to the country The painting used in the ceremony is preserved in Santiago Metropolitan Cathedral and is carried through the streets of Santiago on the last Sunday of September each year In 1987 Pope John Paul II visited Chile and led a beatification ceremony in O Higgins Park for Saint Teresa of Los Andes 3 The ceremony had to be suspended when violence broke out between the Carabineros de Chile Chilean police force and gendarmerie and crowds protesting Augusto Pinochet s military dictatorship The situation calmed and the pope believed to be a supporter of Chile s return to democracy concluded his address with the words love is stronger 4 Davis Cup controversy Edit In 2000 the Arena Santiago in O Higgins Park played host to a tie tennis match between Chile and Argentina as part of the Davis Cup During the second singles match between Nicolas Massu and Mariano Zabaleta the crowd reacted violently throwing objects on the court and forcing Argentina to withdraw 5 Lollapalooza Chile Edit In November 2010 musician and Lollapalooza founder Perry Farrell announced that the first overseas version of the rock festival would take place in O Higgins Park Santiago The inaugural Lollapalooza Chile took place on 2 3 April 2011 and drew a crowd of about 100 000 with venues including the park s Movistar Arena La Elipse and La Cupula Theater Lollapalooza Chile has returned annually since then most recently on 16 18 March 2018 6 Infrastructure Edit Japanese park The park is located next to Parque O Higgins metro station and near Santiago s Autopista Central highway Key structures and facilities include The Movistar Arena one of the largest multi use stadia in South America Campo de Marte also known as La Elipse Spanish the ellipse where a military parade takes place every September 19 for the Day of the Glories of the Army El Pueblito Spanish little village where visitors can find shops craft stalls and museums including the Museum of the Huaso and the Insect and Snail Museum Fantasilandia the biggest amusement park in Chile located in the park s northwestern corner Olympic pool 7 There is also a public pool a roller skating field a skate park tennis courts a soccer field a theater and an artificial lake with walking trails crossing the length of the park References Edit When Parque Cousino became Parque O Higgins Archived 2014 10 06 at the Wayback Machine sentidoscomunes cl September 14 2013 retrieved on March 21 2015 El elefante blanco que se convirtio en epicentro musical economiaynegocios cl May 09 2011 retrieved on March 22 2015 La convulsionada visita del Papa Juan Pablo II a Chile guoteca cl retrieved on March 22 2015 La batalla del parque O Higgins El Pais Madrid April 05 1987 retrieved on March 22 2015 Tennis chiefs consider sanctions after Davis Cup fiasco The Independent 10 April 200 sourced 22 March 2015 Los imperdibles de Lollapalooza Chile 2018 cooperativa cl March 17 2018 retrieved on March 17 2018 Prmera piedra de la piscina olmpica latercera June 08 2012 retrieved on March 22 2015External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Parque O Higgins 360 degree aerial view of O Higgins Park Coordinates 33 27 51 S 70 39 36 W 33 46417 S 70 66000 W 33 46417 70 66000 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title O 27Higgins Park amp oldid 1132103578, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
