Burnham Park (Baguio) | |
---|---|
Burnham Park Lake
|
|
Type | Urban park |
Location | Legarda-Burnham-Kisad, Baguio, 2600 Benguet, Philippines |
Coordinates | 16°24′35″N 120°35′41″E / 16.409592°N 120.59479°ECoordinates: 16°24′35″N 120°35′41″E / 16.409592°N 120.59479°E |
Area | 32.84 hectare |
Owned by | Baguio City Government(2008) |
Open | All year |
Burnham Park is a 32.84 hectare urban park located at the heart of the Baguio, in the Philippines. It was named after the American architect and urban planner, Daniel Hudson Burnham who laid the plans for the city. Several stretch of roads around the park lead to Camp John Hay, a former recreational base of the United States Armed Forces in the Philippines.
At the southern part of the park, a skating rink was constructed. The Melvin Jones Grand Stand and Football Field at the eastern part of the park are normally used for several activities like parades, concerts, and political rallies. The Children's Park and the Orchidarium is located at the western part of the park. There are also bike rentals if one so wishes. You can rent either single bikes, tandem bikes or even bikes with side cars. They even have small bikes for the little kids of both two and three wheel versions.
When the 1990 Luzon earthquake killed more than 100 people in Baguio, many homes were destroyed, leaving many displaced people seeking refuge in Burnham Park.
The park features a man-made lake situated at the center where tourists can enjoy boating with rented boats.
Government of Baguio City and SM Prime Holdings Inc. signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) on the improvement and rehabilitation of the Children’s Playground inside Burnham Park.
At the southern end of Burnham Park, A public rink was constructed where skate rentals are available.
One of the developments that clearly enhanced and improved the park is the major development of the Rose Garden. A bust of Daniel Burnham was erected inside the Rose Garden.
At its center lies an orchid house and different kinds of orchids and other flowers.
It is very popular with the locals who like playing Chess. The Garden is dominated by a Statue of the 5 main Igorot Tribes the Ibalois, Bontocs, Kalingas, Ifugaos and the Kankanaeys.
It has become host to a number of events, most notably the visit of the late Pope John Paul II in the 80s.
It is planned to be rehabilitated including the installation of tartan tracks in the oval, the concreting and rehabilitation of its canals to include changing the roofing and posts in the view deck.