Ciudad Jardín Bicentenario (also known as Ciudad Jardín) is a sports and shopping complex located in Ciudad Nezahualcóyotl ("Neza"), State of Mexico, part of Greater Mexico City. It opened in May 2009 and was developed on 250 hectares (620 acres) of what were the Neza I and II landfills, which over 65 years had received more than 12,000 tonnes of garbage from Mexico City.
History
In the early 2000s, proposals emerged to transform one of the largest landfills in the Americas into a mixed-use center for shopping, ecology, education, and living, following a model similar to that previously implemented in Santa Fe, Mexico City. Municipal and state authorities, together with private investors, supported the project. Approximately 200 million dollars in private capital was invested, 70% of which came from Promotora Sanborn's and Constructora IDEAL (Impulsora para el Desarrollo y el Empleo en América Latina), both companies headed by billionaire Carlos Slim Helú. Of the total investment, about 400 million Mexican pesos were allocated to building the sports complex. Ciudad Jardín was inaugurated on 22 May 2009 by then-Governor of the State of Mexico (and later Mexican president) Enrique Peña Nieto and Carlos Slim.
Name
The name "Bicentenario" commemorates the Mexican bicentennial in 2010, as the complex was expected to be fully completed by that year.
Shopping Center
The shopping center areas cover a total land area of 88,457 square metres (952,140 sq ft) and a total built-up area of 175,635 square metres (1,890,520 sq ft). It is divided into two sections: "Plaza Ciudad Jardín" and "Centro Comercial Ciudad Jardín." Two retail groups predominate: Wal-Mart (with a Wal-Mart and Sam's Club, Vips restaurants, El Portón, and Suburbia department store) and Grupo Carso (with Sears, Mixup, and Sanborns). The complex houses 194 stores and parking for 3,750 cars.
Ciudad Deportiva (Sports Center)
The sports center covers 60 hectares (150 acres) and includes 41 fields and courts: 25 soccer fields, five indoor soccer fields, two American football fields, four tennis courts, four basketball courts, four volleyball courts, two jai alai courts, two baseball fields, an aerobics floor, playgrounds, and recreational areas. It also contains a nearly Olympic-sized stadium, a cycling track, and two gymnasiums. However, as of 2013, the sports complex was reported to be closed to the public because state and municipal authorities had not regularized the title of the land on which it sits. Entrance to the facilities was planned to be free, with corporate sponsorship covering administrative costs.
Other Amenities
Universidad La Salle and Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México have a presence at the complex, as does a rehabilitation center operated by Teletón México. The center was planned to be connected to route 3 of the Ferrocarril Suburbano de la Zona Metropolitana del Valle de México (suburban rail system), a line intended to connect Metro Nezahualcóyotl with Chalco.
Environmental Significance
The project was built on a former landfill site (the Bordo de Xochiaca), representing a large-scale ecological reclamation effort. It was reported to prevent the emission of 22,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year and was a finalist in an international competition selecting the best sustainability and social benefit projects worldwide.
