Ecatepec's first female mayor reclaims public parks from private control
Azucena Cisneros Coss, mayor of Ecatepec de Morelos, has spearheaded the recovery of Texalpa Park, a community space that remained locked and privatized by individuals for several years. Through direct intervention by the local government, the mayor succeeded in returning the property to area residents, delivering it fully renovated, painted and decorated with murals for public use.
Ecatepec, the most populous municipality in Mexico with approximately 1.65 million inhabitants, faces significant urban challenges. More than 40 percent of its population lives in poverty conditions with limited access to public services, making the recovery of public infrastructure particularly critical for vulnerable communities.
During the handover ceremony, Cisneros Coss categorically stated that improper concessions of public land to private entities have ended in Ecatepec, emphasizing that territory is defended in favor of citizens. The mayor announced that her administration maintains a priority plan to recover more than 500 urban spaces throughout the municipality—including parks and sports areas—that remained forgotten or under private control.
The privatization and improper concession of public spaces represents a documented problem in the Mexican urban context, with academic studies identifying lack of governmental coordination and prevalence of the private sector in public space management as systemic challenges.
Historic leadership amid security crisis
Cisneros Coss, who took office in December 2024 as Ecatepec's first female mayor for the 2025-2027 term after obtaining 43 percent of votes in June 2024 elections, confronts severe security challenges. According to data from Mexico's National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) for the fourth quarter of 2024, 88 percent of Ecatepec residents consider living in the municipality unsafe, placing it as the municipality with the highest perception of insecurity in the State of Mexico and third nationally.
To activate the facilities, the mayor promoted the arrival of the municipal program Cambia de Cancha (Change Your Court), which offers sports disciplines and cultural workshops free of charge. At Texalpa Park, as well as at adjacent properties La Avioneta and Las Canchas, trained instructors teach boxing, zumba and basketball classes, directly benefiting dozens of children and young people from the sector.
Community support for transformation
Neighbors and athletes from the community expressed their support for Mayor Cisneros for removing access restrictions and transforming a site that previously represented a security hotspot. With this comprehensive urban rescue strategy, the mayor reaffirms her commitment to return public infrastructure to families and promote sports in the most vulnerable neighborhoods.
The recovery initiative proceeds despite fiscal constraints, as the new administration inherited municipal debt exceeding 1.4 billion pesos in labor settlements and electricity service obligations.