Wonderful People's Park in Davao City

The People's Park in Davao  is a cultural-theme park located at the Heart of Davao City. It is the brainchild of the then mayor of Davao City, Rodrigo Duterte, who, in December 15, 2007, led the ceremonial inauguration of the park. 

This  4-hectare park got its name from a "Name the Park" contest by the city government which was won by Romeo Sardon, a retired electrician and seaman. He bagged the P50,000 grand prize money for winning among the 918 entries that were submitted in contest.

People's Park Main Entrance

The People’s Park opened in the second half of 2007. This   park has a P72-M  is once an old, dilapidated Palaruang Panlunsod or commonly known as the old PTA ground where the city used to host athletic meets, sports events, orchid shows, concerts, and other citywide events. Now, the old PTA ground has transformed into a clean and beautiful park adorned with tropical rain forest trees, large sculptures, interactive fountains, ponds and waterfalls, a durian dome, a shady and open plaza, and a statue of a gigantic Philippine eagle, and is frequented by locals, visitors, and foreign tourists. The once dilapidated PTA ground has now become a city landmark and a major attraction in Davao City.

People's Park Visitors Center; Durian Dome

Everyone who enters the park needs to undergo a security check. All  bags were thoroughly checked. Aside from that, the park also has a built-in surveillance system. Talk about real security!

Upon entry to the park, one will be greeted by the 425-square meter visitors’ center built with a durian dome design.

The park has over four-hectare land area, almost 10,000 square meters were allotted to plants that is more than 1,000 species of trees and wild plants from Madagascar, Borneo, Indonesia, Cambodia, Central America, Papua New Guinea, dark rain forests of Africa and of course, the Philippines.

The oval race track from the old sports complex was retained and permanently paved with bricks and is now called, The Promenade since the track is a favorite venue among joggers and health buffs for morning physical fitness and therapeutic exercises. Joggers can now jog around the oval amid the beautifully landscaped lush greenery and quiet ambiance of the park. Surrounding it are: a bambusetum, a collection of the different species of bamboo; a shady plaza where African tulips are planted within the 3,750 square meter-area; and an open plaza with a walk-through rainbow drive featuring some collections of potted palms.

 At the center of the oval track you can see  is a wide grassy area with a dancing fountain which is considered the first in Mindanao, and a long, wide bridge which affords a panoramic view of the entire park. Also, there is a sloping hill filled with tall, stately pine trees that were brought-in from Baguio and Benguet in Luzon. Behind this area is the park's man-made "rain forest" that stretches all the way to the opposite side of the park close to the exit gate.

Awesome big Sculpture of the Philippine Eagle was made by:  Kublai Millan

And also you can find some more  handcrafted concrete artworks and figures representing the Lumads, the indigenous people or tribe of Davao. The artworks were done by artist named Kublai Millan, a well-known and prolific Davao sculptor who created the Freedom statue in front of the Sangguniang Panlungsod building.