Parque Althea, Prados de Coyoacán

The Parque Althea is a small neighborhood park in the Prados de Coyoacán neighborhood. Together with the adjoining Deportivo Lira, the park adds a nice punctuation to the long stretch of green in the center of the Canal de Miramontes. It’s just across the Canal from the southernmost point of the Plaza Zapamundi.

The park is likely most famous for the Saturday tianguis that takes up much of the street outside the sports complex. Besides providing fresh food for the neighborhood, it’s also well-regarded for the purveyors of prepared foods. Entire families often show up.

Like many parks of its size, this one boasts a big dog run. A kids area makes it attractive for tykes. But most neighborhood people come just for the trees.

While much of greater Coapa has given way to over-development and some poor urban-planning choices, the parks are an exception. The Prados of Coyoacán, to be distinguished from the Prados of Coapa recall the area’s long history as farm meadows. These surrounded the three great haciendas, named for San José, San Antonio de Padua, and San Juan de Dios. All of them disappeared by the late 19th century.

But the Parque Althea and the Prados de Coyoacán recall a time not that long ago when cars were outnumbered by trees.