It is the most awarded river in the Hall of Fame awardees for the Cleanest Inland Body of Water in the Philippines. Marikina River Park is a popular camping site, picnic grounds and recreational park, such as concrete jogging and bike lanes, benches and skating rink.
At night, Marikina River Park transforms into a modern nightlife events center because of numerous bars, restaurants, cafés and night clubs along the riverbanks. Other attractions in Marikina River include the Roman Garden, Chinese Pagoda, Kawayanan, Youth Camp, Animal Trail, Skating Rink and Women's Park. It is also a traditional venue for the Marikina Christmas Festival which begins annually as early as October.
The Marikina River Park is the “biggest sports and recreational park in the country in a natural setting”. It is located in Marikina City and runs alongside a portion of the 27 km Pasig-Marikina River, which is the main river system in Eastern Metro Manila. The Marikina River Park has the distinction of being the cleanest inland body of water in the Philippines.
During the Holiday Season, it is the venue for the city’s annual Christmas Festival. It is also the site for the Mama Mary Fluvial Parade.
Amenities
There are several things to do at the River Park. During the day, visitors can go biking and jogging on a 11 km dedicated lane. There are park benches, playgrounds for children, a gazebo and picnic grounds. There is a floating stage for events and a riverboat. People can also see the following:
• Roman Garden
• Chinese Pagoda
• Kawayanan
• Youth Camp
• Animal trail
• The Philippine’s largest roller skating rink
• Senior Citizen’s Lifestyle Center
The Marikina River Park serves as an example of what good government can do with the right fortitude and strong political will. Detractors said the river couldn’t be rehabilitated since previous efforts by local government were unsuccessful. Unlike other public parks and venues, it did not rely on corporate sponsorship to make the park a reality. The local government used its own city coffers to fund the park. It shows that with the proper city planning, any city in the country can be clean, viable and dynamic.
Getting around
Currently, elevated light rail systems run through Marikina City. The first or last station of LRT 2 is Santolan located along Marcos Highway. The station connects to Claro M. Recto Avenue in Manila.
Public transportation within the city, like in most of the urban areas in the Philippines, is facilitated mostly using inexpensive jeepneys and buses. Tricycles (motorbikes with an attached two seater carriage) are the usual transportation used for short distances, while Taxi cabs are used by the upper middle class. The roads are organized around a set of long narrow and circumferential roads that radiate and circle in and around the city.
Accommodations
• EDSA Shangri-la Manila Hotel - 1 Garden Way, Ortigas Centre, Mandaluyong City , Ortigas-Pasig, Manila, Philippines 1650
• Best Western Premier F1 Hotel - 32nd St. Bonifacio Global City, Bonifacio Global City / The Fort, Manila, Philippines
• Oakwood Premier Joy Nostalg Center Manila - 17 ADB Avenue Ortigas Center, Ortigas-Pasig, Manila, Philippines 1600
• The Linden Suites - 37 San Miguel Avenue, Ortigas Center, Ortigas-Pasig, Manila, Philippines 1600
• New Horizon Hotel - 778 Boni Avenue corner EDSA (near boundary of Makati), Mandaluyong, Manila, Philippines 1550