The fourth section of Chapultepec Forest could become one of Mexico City’s most ambitious environmental projects: a 4.6-kilometer-long open, clean, and enjoyable river.
According to Natasha Uren Vázquez, executive director of the forest, the proposal seeks to restore a riverbed that currently serves as a discharge area for wastewater from Santa Fe.
The plan calls for eliminating polluting discharges and implementing nature-based solutions to clean the water. This would not only rehabilitate the ecosystem but also create a new public space where people can walk, explore, and reconnect with the natural environment stretching from Vasco de Quiroga to the Tacubaya Dam.
A project that would transform the fourth section
This project is not starting from scratch. The fourth section of Chapultepec Forest remained closed for years due to its military use, which allowed much of its flora and fauna to remain in good condition. There are even springs that still flow with clean water, reinforcing the area’s environmental potential.
In addition to this river, the fourth section is part of a comprehensive restoration plan that includes the creation of cultural spaces, nature trails, conservation areas, and new public access points. The goal is to integrate this area into the rest of Chapultepec Forest as an active green lung, with infrastructure that prioritizes sustainability and contact with nature.
Currently, topographic surveys are being conducted and the detailed design is being developed. Once this phase is complete, more precise timelines for construction will be established.
Although there is no exact opening date yet, it is estimated that this new river could be ready before 2030. If realized, it would mark a turning point in the way the city reclaims its natural spaces.
