Surrounded by nature and by coffee plantations, fields of Chiverre-squash, carrots, lettuce and potatoes, there is the small town of Zarcero. In addition to the Zarcero-Natilla, a kind of sour cream, the inhabitants are especially proud of their local park. The blog reports on the figures in this very special park and the artist behind it.
History
The history of the park began more than 50 years ago in 1964. The then 25-year-old Evangelista Blanco Brenes was hired by Zarcero's municipal administration to create and manage a park in front of the church of San Rafael Arcángel in the town centre.
The wooden church of Zarcero
He cultivated cypress trees and gave them various forms. Step by step, he created a very special place where you can find various figures cut from hedges and trees: planes, personalities, bows, bridges, dinosaurs and more.
In 2014, Blanco was awarded the Galardón de Cultura Popular Tradicional Emilia Prieto, one of the highest national cultural prices.
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The park's creator
Three years later, Blanco Brenes was released by the local church, which had been taking over the park for some time. The church said that such a physical activity was too dangerous for the almost 80-year-old Blanco, especially since he would have to climb ladders. The case sparked nationwide headlines and shortly thereafter Blanco was offered the job again.
Even today, when visiting the park, it is not uncommon to see the artist cutting back the cypress trees. In the many years of his career, Blanco used more than 300 hedge trimmers and created a work of art of about 120 different figures. At Christmas, the park is decorated with fairy lights.
Around the park in Zarcero
The restaurant "Rancho de Ceci”, which is located about 3km or a 5-minute-drive north of the park, is a great option for hungry visitors. Here you will be spoiled with traditional Costa Rican cuisine and excellent coffee prepared on log fires.
To get from San José to the Arenal volcano in La Fortuna, there are several ways. The winding mountain road over Zarcero and Naranjo is scenic. The park, the life's work of Blanco, is definitely worth a visit and is right on this route.
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