La Carolina Park Gets $6.8 Million in Parking and Safety Upgrades

Quito's Municipio del Distrito Metropolitano has approved a $6.8 million improvement package for Parque La Carolina, the capital's most-visited urban park spanning 67 hectares in the heart of the financial district.

The upgrades, announced by Mayor Pabel Munoz on February 6, target the park's two biggest complaints: chaotic parking and safety concerns after dark.

What's Planned

Parking ($4.2 million):

• 400-space underground parking structure beneath the western entrance on Avenida Amazonas
• Construction starts April 2026, 14-month build
• EV charging stations for 40 vehicles (10% of capacity)
• Will operate at $1.50/hour

Safety ($1.8 million):

• 280 LED light fixtures replacing aging sodium vapor lamps
• 65 new security cameras integrated into ECU-911
• 12 emergency call stations
• Extended park patrol hours from 10pm to midnight

Amenities ($800,000):

• Resurfaced 3.2 km jogging loop
• New children's playground at the southern end
• 20 additional outdoor fitness stations
• WiFi coverage across 80% of the park

Why It Matters

Parque La Carolina receives an estimated 3 million visits annually. On weekends, approximately 1,200 vehicles circle the park looking for roughly 300 informal street parking spots, creating gridlock on surrounding avenues.

What Expats Should Know

If you live in northern Quito or near La Carolina:

• Expect 14 months of construction disruption near the Amazonas entrance starting April 2026
• The parking structure is a genuine improvement -- the current weekend parking situation is terrible
• The safety upgrades are welcome -- La Carolina after dark has been an area of concern for years
• The jogging loop resurfacing will benefit the large community of runners and walkers who use the park daily

Business owners along Avenida Amazonas are enthusiastic: "Better parking means more customers for restaurants and shops around the park."

Source: El Telegrafo