06/07/2026
Two years ago, we started an incredible journey together.
What began as a shared vision between CEDE Aruba, Stichting Jantje Beton, and many passionate partners has now become a reality. Last Friday, we proudly celebrated the opening of Phase 1 of Lago Heights Park—a place designed to inspire children to play, explore, dream, and connect.
As the architect and lead designer of this project, it has been an incredible privilege to transform a vision into a vibrant public space. Every color, pathway, play element, and detail was carefully considered to create a safe, inclusive, and inspiring environment where children can simply be children.
We added a new playful layer to Lago Heights Park, enhancing its beautiful landscape while embracing its unique and accessible setting. This first phase marks the beginning of a larger vision. In the coming phases, we aim to transform the park into a vibrant, family-friendly destination where children can play, adults can stay active, and families can come together to enjoy Aruba's natural beauty.
This project would not have been possible without the incredible collaboration and support of CEDE Aruba, Stichting Jantje Beton, the Dutch Postcode Lottery, VNO, the Government of Aruba, our contractors, consultants, community members, and everyone who believed in this vision from the very beginning. Together, we have shown what can be achieved when organizations unite around a common purpose.
Finally, I want to thank my amazing team at O4IA. To Brent van Gent and Amanda Dulay, thank you for your creativity, passion, and dedication throughout the design process. And to our Construction Manager, Luis Hellburg, thank you for your extraordinary leadership on site. Your commitment went far beyond what anyone could have expected, and your dedication to making this project a success was truly out of this world. I couldn't be prouder of what we achieved together.
Although we celebrated the opening of the first phase, this is only the beginning. There is still much more to come, and I look forward to continuing this journey together as Lago Heights Park grows into one of Aruba's most vibrant public spaces.
We look forward to continuing this journey, creating inspiring places where play, nature, and community come together, celebrating our natural heritage and enriching the lives of future generations.
