Solon de Lucena Park: the Lagoon in the city center

The urban lagoon that became a park in 1922 remains the main meeting point for sports and leisure in downtown João Pessoa.

Parque Solon de Lucena, best known by Pessoenses as the "Parque da Lagoa" (Lagoon Park), occupies an area of about 15 hectares in downtown João Pessoa, of which approximately 12 hectares correspond to the lagoon's water surface. The body of water was originally a marsh called "Lagoa dos Irerês," named for the large number of whistling ducks that swam there, and it was turned into a public park in 1922, receiving in 1924 its name in honor of then-governor Solon de Lucena.

In 1940, during the administration of governor Argemiro de Figueiredo, the area underwent a renovation that included the participation of landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx, one of the most important names in Brazilian landscaping, in the design of the flower beds around the lagoon. Today the park is surrounded by public buildings, banks and a steady flow of pedestrians, functioning as a kind of collective living room in the middle of the city.

For those seeking physical activity, the area around the lagoon offers a walking track shared by pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a skate park and an extreme sports area with slackline and climbing equipment, as described by the João Pessoa City Hall. The vegetation also stands out: according to the city, the park has 573 trees and 187 palm trees catalogued and monitored by the Department of the Environment (Semam), which guarantees shade along practically the entire perimeter.

The park is open 24 hours a day, free of charge, and usually brings together families, craft vendors and people exercising at different times of day. Before special events, it's worth checking the schedule on the official channels of the João Pessoa City Hall.