Medellín's sublime return to nature
Over the last 10 years, Medellín, Colombia, has undergone a stunning transformation: huge swaths of the city that were previously encased in concrete have been restored to their natural state, such as in Parque Prado. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Parques del Río, seen on 3 June 2025. Since 2016, the city has invested in greening the landscape as a way to reduce the urban heat island effect, improve air quality, prevent flooding and restore biodiversity. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Parques del Río. Medellín's renaturalization plan includes the creation of dozens of 'green corridors' – interconnected streets, bike paths, parks and bridges – that have helped lower temperatures by 5F (2.8C) in some areas. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Parques del Río. 'Residents of Medellín feel that greenery is an important part of our landscape,' said Marcela Noreña Restrepo, the city's secretary of environment. 'There's a sense of ownership. People take better care of the spaces where there's greenery.' Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Workers maintain Avenida Oriental, a main thoroughfare in Medellín. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Officials added green roofs and vertical gardens to buildings, such as on Medellín's city council building, reducing the urban heat island effect and helping the buildings' interiors stay cool. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
A mourning dove perched on Medellín's city council building. 'With more greenery, we have more wildlife,' Noreña Restrepo said. 'Butterflies are coming, little birds are coming.' Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
View of a highway from Parques del Río. Many of Medellín's overpasses have been greened to promote biodiversity and improve air quality. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Parque Prado was a pilot project in Medellín's renaturalization plan. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
The site, which had previously fallen into disrepair, was restored using recycled materials and native plants. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Medellín has roughly 4,000 streams, and the city has been greening embankments, including in the Parques del Río. 'Everything is water,' said Noreña Restrepo. 'If we don't intervene appropriately, problems like flooding begin to appear.' Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Plaza Botero, a park with 23 statues by the city's own Fernando Botero, gained new vegetation and other updates. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Visitors get some shade in Plaza Botero. Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
Plaza Botero. Designers paid special attention to the composition of the landscape, Noreña Restrepo said: 'Where there's vegetation, it's not just a tree, but rather a combination of different species. So, it's very pleasant to walk around – yes, because of the lower temperature, but also because the city is much more beautiful.'
Photograph: Jaime Saldarriaga/Guardian
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