Parque Batallón de San Patricio

The Parque Batallón de San Patricio is practically an extension of the headquarters of the Alcaldía Álvaro Obregón. Long known as the Parque Deportivo de la Juventud, as the park across the street bears the same name, this one has consolidated into more than just courts and playing fields.

The park is deep within some of the area’s most dense residential territory. The giant Unidad Santa Fe is practically around the corner. And although that enormous housing district was originally designed with sports and recreation facilities, growth in all the surrounding neighborhoods meant the demand was only going to increase.

Today the park is still centered a few giant playing fields. Perhaps it’s best known for the somewhat unusual parkour course. But there are also picnic areas and plenty of areas for kids. Complemented by the Parque de la Juventud, the Parque Batallón de San Patricio  commemorates the famous Irish battalion who fought alongside Mexican forces in 1846-47. As 29 Irish fighters were tried and executed by the invasion forces in San Ángel, this part of Mexico City has long held them in high regard.

As mentioned, the park extends westward from the many offices in the Alcaldía. Government workers are not an uncommon site. And many of these will be part in the organized sports teams who round out the bulk of the park’s many patrons.

There’s a principal entrance on the far western edge by the library. It’s probably more frequent for visitors to enter at one of the entrances by the iconic green pedestrian bridges crossing from the Parque de la Juventud on the other side of Calle 1o.