Parque Esmeralda: Transforming a Landfill into a Community Garden in Copiapó, Chile

Parque Esmeralda, designed by CAW Arquitectos, is a groundbreaking community garden project located in the northern periphery of Copiapó, Chile, at the edge of the Atacama Desert. Covering an area of 215,278 ft², this park revitalizes a former landfill, transforming a space long dominated by garbage and rubble into a lush, socially inclusive urban garden. Completed in 2021, the project serves over 300 vulnerable families, offering a green, habitable, and safe public space for recreation, interaction, and ecological education.

From Landfill to Green Oasis

Originally, the site was part of a small stream but had been abandoned and filled with debris for over 40 years. Residents of the Esmeralda neighborhood dreamed of reclaiming the land to create a vibrant heart for their community. The Parque Esmeralda project embodies this vision, converting a neglected area into a vital, communal hub while addressing extreme water scarcity challenges in the world’s driest desert region.

Design Approach: Green Perception & Visual Connectivity

The project’s design prioritizes the perception of greenery rather than sheer coverage. By strategically placing groves at intersections and along pathways, every neighbor experiences a visual connection with vegetation, replacing the previously unsightly landfill. Terraced landscaping adapts to a steep 42-meter slope, using locally sourced stone for retaining walls and viewpoints overlooking the Copiapó Valley.

Social and Ecological Fabric

The park combines zones of high vegetation, orchards, and community gardens with paved areas, balancing ecological resilience with social functionality. Accessible circulation, meeting areas, and gathering spaces foster community engagement while mitigating urban heat islands. The terraced layout and careful planting create a microclimate that thrives in the harsh desert environment.

Community Engagement & Workshops

From inception, CAW Arquitectos collaborated extensively with residents, conducting workshops to co-design spaces that meet local needs. This participatory process strengthened social bonds, empowering the community to take ownership of the park.

Sustainability & Local Materials

In line with environmentally responsible practices, the park uses locally sourced stones and xerophytic vegetation suited to the Atacama climate. Green terraces, orchards, and native plants promote biodiversity and provide sustainable, low-maintenance landscaping solutions.

A Vision Realized

Parque Esmeralda now unites two previously divided neighborhoods, creating a cultural, recreational, and ecological landmark in Copiapó. This project exemplifies the transformative power of urban design in marginalized areas, turning waste into a flourishing communal space.

All the photographs are works of  Rodrigo Werner