The third phase of El Tesoro Park in Ciudad Mallorquín has been inaugurated: it was designed by children and young people in the metaverse

• Grupo Argos led the development and construction of the third phase of one of the most iconic parks in the Barranquilla metropolitan area, inspired by designs created by children and young people during the From the Metaverse to Reality tournament. This section spans more than 20,000 m².
• The participatory design methodology promoted by Cementos Argos enabled more than 1,500 children and young people to help imagine this new public space. The project encourages community interaction, play, culture, sports, and connection with nature, while demonstrating how the ideas of new generations can help transform communities.
• El Tesoro spans more than seven hectares and is part of the network of parks developed by Grupo Argos over the past decades in the Barranquilla metropolitan area. Together, these parks now provide more than 210 hectares of public space, with over 7 m² per inhabitant across its urban developments, above the average of Colombia’s major cities.

What began as a creative challenge within the Minecraft universe has now become the third phase of El Tesoro Park in Ciudad Mallorquín, a public space designed to promote the well-being of all residents of Puerto Colombia. The inauguration event, held on Tuesday, August 11, brought together the children and young people who won the tournament, residents of Ciudad Mallorquín, members of the Community Action Board, and Plinio Cedeño, Mayor of Puerto Colombia.

The development and construction of this phase of El Tesoro Park were led by Grupo Argos and its building materials company, Cementos Argos, drawing inspiration from the ideas of more than 1,500 children and young people from different regions of Colombia who participated in the 2024 edition of the From the Metaverse to Reality tournament.

This initiative uses Minecraft as an innovative participatory design methodology to invite new generations to imagine what the public spaces in their communities should look like. The winning designs served as the starting point for a technical, architectural, landscaping, and community engagement process that transformed the participants’ ideas into a park designed for community interaction, recreation, sports, connection with nature, and social coexistence.

The new space includes a children’s recreation area, a bicycle track, a picnic area, an outdoor fitness and calisthenics circuit, walking trails, and an area with chess tables and urban amenities.

“Beyond its infrastructure, this phase of El Tesoro Park represents an innovative way of building cities by listening to children and young people, recognizing their ability to imagine the communities in which they will grow and develop, and turning their ideas into projects that create well-being and strengthen the social fabric of Barranquilla, Puerto Colombia, and Atlántico.”

Juan Esteban Calle
President of Grupo Argos

“It is very exciting to see a project that began as a design in Minecraft become a real space for the community. This experience shows that it is worthwhile to listen to the ideas of children and young people and give them the opportunity to participate in shaping the city. I hope this park becomes a place where many people can come together, enjoy themselves, and create new memories.”

Alexandra Cortina
First-place winner in the youth category, Barranquilla

In addition to bringing the winning proposals to life, the park incorporates elements that allow visitors to learn about the process behind its creation. Visitors will find information about the tournament, the names of the winners, and messages created by them, with the aim of recognizing their contribution and encouraging a sense of ownership and care for the public space.

With El Tesoro Park in Ciudad Mallorquín, the Argos Business Group reaffirms its commitment to sustainable urban development and to creating high-quality public spaces for all residents of Puerto Colombia. The park has become a key gathering place not only for residents of Ciudad Mallorquín but also for the broader metropolitan community, hosting weekly activities such as reading workshops for children, dance fitness sessions, and soccer, tennis, and yoga classes, while fostering social integration and the well-being of its visitors.