Oldest Parks: Mehan Gardens and Luneta Park
During the late 1700s, the suburbs immediately outside Intramuros were demolished, leaving a vast empty field.
In 1820, work was completed on a small promenade south of Intramuros along the seaside. This became known as the Paseo de Luneta. Together with the nearby Bagumbayan Field (containing barracks and fortifications), would be transformed and expanded in the next 100 years into Rizal Park Luneta.
East of Intramuros, near Calle Arroceros, the empty land was transformed in 1858, into the Jardin Botanico. The botanical gardens were later redeveloped into the Mehan Gardens. Sadly, unlike Rizal Park, Mehan Gardens steadily shrunk with the passage of the 20th century.
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