Isla Verde

In 2024 and 2025, Friends of Havana supported the creation of Isla Verde, a new public park in Vedado designed especially for children under five. The initiative responds to a simple but important need: the lack of safe, welcoming outdoor spaces in Havana that are specifically designed for very young children and their families.

The project has been championed by a newly formed Proyecto de Desarrollo Local (PDL) led by the team behind the nearby nursery Isla de los Niños, whose leadership has been instrumental in advancing the vision for the park and mobilizing community support. Working together with local partners, the initiative aims to create a small but vibrant neighborhood destination focused on play, care, and everyday social life.

The park combines playful design with creative reuse of materials. Two repurposed shipping containers have been transformed into a small café and service area, helping activate the space and provide a gathering point for families. The play environment includes a climbing wall, water feature, sandpit, slide, and other elements designed to encourage movement, exploration, and imaginative play for younger children.

Friends of Havana supported the development of the park as part of its broader commitment to improving public space across Havana through practical, community-driven projects. Isla Verde reflects the belief that modest, well-designed interventions can have an outsized impact on daily life, particularly when they serve groups whose needs are often overlooked.

By focusing on early childhood and neighborhood life, Isla Verde contributes to a more family-friendly urban environment in Vedado while demonstrating how local initiative, civic partnership, and thoughtful design can transform underused urban spaces into places of joy and community.