Parque de la Amistad (Friendship Park), Tijuana

Parque de la Amistad is a large public park created in 1978 as a green “breathing space” during a period of rapid urban and industrial growth. Its name reflects friendship and community life, and the park remains popular with families, runners, skaters, and local residents looking for open air, shade, and room to gather. Since 1998, it has been managed by SIMPATT, which also oversees other major recreational spaces in the area.

Its main feature is the artificial lake, which serves as both a visual centrepiece and a small urban ecosystem. The water attracts migratory birds such as pelicans, cranes, and ducks, while stocked fish, including bass, carp, and catfish, support aquatic life below the surface. Visitors can also rent pedal-powered paddle boats, adding a simple recreational use to the lake’s ecological role.

Visitors will find picnic areas, palapas with grills, playgrounds, kiosks, open lawns, and a 2.5-kilometre dirt-and-gravel loop used by walkers and runners. The park also includes the city’s first public skatepark, an outdoor fitness plaza for classes such as Zumba and aerobics, and weekend children’s shows, workshops, and performances. Its location near airport flight paths also makes it a local plane-spotting spot.