O'Higgins Park (Spanish: Parque O'Higgins, previously known as Parque Cousiño), covering approximately 75 hectares (190 acres), is Santiago, Chile's second largest public park after Metropolitan Park. It is situated in the center of the capital city, within the Santiago Commune.
Named after Bernardo O'Higgins, one of Chile's founding fathers, the park is a popular destination for families on weekends and holidays, particularly during the national holiday on September 18, when traditional gathering places for dancing, eating, and drinking, called fondas and ramadas, are open to the public for a few days.
From 2011 and 2019, O’Higgins Park served as the location of the annual Lollapalooza Chile music festival.
History
Old pond in Parque O'Higgins; nineteenth century oil painting by Alberto Orrego LucoAmusement 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.
