The park extends over approximately in the borough of Xochimilco, 23 km south of the historic center of Mexico City, between Periférico Oriente and Periférico Sur, near the Cuemanco area. The official address is Anillo Periférico #1, Colonia Ciénega Grande, Xochimilco, 16036 Mexico City, CDMX. This area of Xochimilco is known as
Cuemanco, so the park and market are also sometimes referred to with this name. The population around the area is a mix of urban, semi-urban and rural settlements. No one is permitted to live in the park. The park is divided by the Anillo Periférico, with the section north of the road smaller than the southern section. The park has agreements with the public schools and receives 150,000 school children each year. Much of the ecological system was restored over a five-year period, then the area opened as a park in 1993 in order to create tourism, hinder the urbanization of the area and preserve the local ecology. The aim of this area is to preserve an environment known to the
Aztecs over 500 years ago. In addition to the chinampas, restoration efforts expanded a lake to 54 hectares and created two smaller artificial ones of about a hectare each. Facing these waterways is the Cuemanco embarcadero (docks) from which
trajinera boats depart, These boats, along with the associated plant market, are the best-known features of the park. The park has a number of other attractions. There are two greenhouses, bicycle and jogging paths, the Cuemanco canal for rowing, a small zoo, an aviary managed by
SEDESOL, an area with archeological artifacts, enclosures for deer and coyotes in rehabilitation, playgrounds, 35 fields and courts for sports and areas for picnicking with
palapas. The plant market is also part of this, as stalls are rented out to sellers. One of the park's functions is to provide shelter for wildlife. The most iconic species to Xochimilco is the
axolotl, a salamander species considered to be an incarnation of a god by the Aztecs because of its ability to regrow certain body parts. This animal is highly endangered and is no longer found wild in the canals of Xochimilco. It is kept from extinction through the efforts of organizations such as Umbral Axochiatl, which works in conjunction with the Instituto de Biología de la Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (
UNAM). These have facilities at the park. The waters contain reeds, another plant called
chacatules, often used in crafts, aquatic birds, insects and fish. The area is very quiet, especially compared to the urban area which nearly surrounds it. Another important species is the
kingfisher, which was earlier thought to be extinct in the area, but has been seen again. One drawback of the park is its lack of mature shade trees, as they were planted when the park was founded in the 1990s. The park's ecology remains in danger from pollution associated with urban sprawl. The water is contaminated by sewage and household garbage, damaging flora, driving away wildlife and risking the health of surrounding residents. ==The Cuemanco Plant Market==