San José will move ahead this year with upgrades to Parque Central, Plaza de las Garantías Sociales and Plaza González Víquez as part of a larger push to recover public spaces in the capital. The projects are at different stages of planning and contracting, with Parque Central already moving through the public procurement system.
Mayor Diego Miranda said the municipality is preparing work in Parque Central and Plaza de las Garantías Sociales, while the design for Plaza Víquez is still awaiting approval from the Colegio Federado de Ingenieros y Arquitectos. The three sites are among the capital’s most recognizable public areas and form part of the city’s plan to improve safety, accessibility and daily use of urban spaces.
The municipality has allocated ₡9.634 billion this year for park renovations and sidewalk work. Of that amount, ₡5.034 billion is earmarked for parks and ₡4.6 billion for sidewalks and mobility projects. The sidewalk plan includes more than 21 kilometers of new walkways with urban furniture, trees and accessibility features.
Parque Central is scheduled for ₡648 million in improvements. The work includes expanded green areas, better lighting, new urban furniture, a sensory garden, pergolas, an automated irrigation system and a café in the basement of the historic bandstand. The project also has a public interest declaration and approval from the historic architectural heritage office.
Plaza de las Garantías Sociales, located near the Caja Costarricense de Seguro Social headquarters, is next in line. That project is expected to cost about ₡1.015 billion and is in the early contracting stage. The planned upgrades aim to make the plaza cooler, safer, more accessible and more environmentally friendly.
Plaza González Víquez will receive a broader renewal, with an investment projected at more than ₡2.2 billion. The plan includes new sidewalks, improved lighting, a new gym area, a synthetic field and refurbished outdoor courts. The contracting process has not started yet because the municipality is waiting for final CFIA approval.
The projects add to other public space work planned or underway in districts such as Hatillo and Pavas, where the municipality has been promoting new sidewalks, park upgrades, lighting and community recreation areas. Officials say the goal is to give residents safer and more useful spaces for daily life, not just cosmetic improvements.
The local investments come as Costa Rica continues to manage tight public finances at the national level. The Finance Ministry reported that central government debt stood at 59.2 percent of GDP in January 2026, down from 60.4 percent at the close of 2025. The ministry also reported a 22.8 percent year-on-year drop in interest payments.
Costa Rica also made its first local-market placement of euro-denominated government bonds in 2025, raising €1 billion through a November auction with maturity in 2030 and a 5.5 percent interest rate. The Finance Ministry described the operation as part of a broader effort to diversify the government’s debt portfolio.
For San José, the park and plaza upgrades will test the municipality’s ability to turn budgeted public works into visible improvements in the city center. If contracting advances as planned, Parque Central and Plaza de las Garantías Sociales could move first, while Plaza Víquez waits for final design approval before work can begin.
