EcO pArK wItH aRlEnE and MaT mArCh 2012 part 2
The Ecopark spans 33 hectares, 10 of which is already operational. It lies within the La Mesa Watershed which measures 2,700 hectares and is straddled by Rizal Province, Caloocan, Marikina, and Quezon City. There’s even more greenery as one enters the park proper. This is no surprise as rare species of plants and animals are aplenty. Fifty pesos gives access to all the park has to offer from 8 AM to 5 PM all days of the week. Those inside before 5 in the afternoon can stay until 6 PM.
eco park long stairs The swimming pool that is in its golden year is the centerpiece, which also makes the park double as a resort since it attracts a lot of swimmers daily, save for Monday when it is scheduled for cleaning.Hikers would find it a challenge (or not) the stairway with more than 100 steps.
Bikes’ rental fees vary; mountain bikes cost P70 to rent, sidecars are between P70-80, go karts at P60. The cheapest are the kiddie bikes, which can be rented for P50.Camping sites abound. One may set up a tent or a simple picnic mats under the umbrella of trees with big barks. There are also playgrounds for kids.
eco park main wayThe Orchidarium and the Shell Flower Terraces are evocative of the Tuscan countryside or the Austrian hillsides. You’d almost hear strains of “the hills are alive with the sound of music” like Maria and the Trapp Family Singers would come bursting through any minute.
It’s more quiet at the pond, where families can fish minus the boats. The boats may be rented for P100 and are to be found at the lagoon, which is some ways away. One has to get out of the park and walk down to the dock to go boating. The number of passengers is limited to four adults or any number of kids the equivalent of that.
eco park terracesThe lagoon is less than four feet deep, shallow enough to erase worries about drowning should the boat turn turtle. Still, the younger boaters are strapped with life vests and it’s reassuring enough that lifesavers are on the lookout at all times. This boating lagoon is still clear and less odoriferous, despite its proximity to the Payatas dumpsite (don’t worry, it’s not in view). The lagoon is also easier on the eyes since trees bound it on almost all sides, and the sun is able to make prismatic reflections on the water.
eco park rivereco park boating
A weekend jaunt to the La Mesa Ecopark is suggested, although going there on a weekday would actually be more serene.
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