Vicente de Lara Park

Vicente de Lara Park (McArthur Park) is a popular jogging and zumba area during early in the morning situated in front of the Provincial Capitol of Misamis Oriental building with age-old mahogany trees that provide a therapeutic canopy for the promenades.

The Park is located in front of the provincial capitol building, the seat of the government of Misamis Oriental. Although it is inside Cagayan de Oro, the park is owned and administered by the province of Misamis Oriental. Old nara, mahogany and other hardwood trees are the park’s main sight. Those trees provide pleasant atmosphere to people who have official dealings in the capitol, to visitors and to other people who want a respite from the sweltering heat of the sun especially in summer days. The park also serves as an ideal place to stroll in the evening, to jog, to do other physical exercises especially in the early morning or to pass the time while enjoying the park’s amenities  such as the low concrete benches and the shade that is provided by trees.

A Press Freedom Monument and the Heritage Monument of Misamis Oriental designed by national artist Eduardo Castrillo can also be found in this park. Since its completion, the area at the monument has become the venue for the press people to redress their grievances against the killing of journalists, the curtailment of press freedom and the other significant issues that are of public interest. Some major current issues that the press people of Cagayan de Oro actively protested at the Press Freedom Monument are the Ampatuan Massacre and the Anti-Cybercrime Law.