Can the capital city of Costa Rica be transformed into an approximation of a New York city neighborhood? More specifically, can the metropolitan park of La Sabana mirror parts of the swanky Central Park district of Manhattan. According to an article in Diario Extra, which cites El Nuevo Herald from Miami and the Spanish EFE news agency as sources, a future presidential candidate in Costa Rica thinks that La Sabana could be spiffed up to resemble a bite of the Big Apple.

Mayor of San Jose Johnny Araya, a powerful member of the ruling National Liberation political party, recently sat down with EFE journalist Nancy Lemos and outlined his vision of transforming San Jose from a business city to a cultural center worthy of upscale urban lifestyle. Writing for EFE, Ms. Lemos describes San Jose as a transient city, a hub for travelers and backpackers who only spend a short time in the capital of Costa Rica; just long enough to arrange transportation to our famous beaches, forests, and rural destinations.

Mayor Araya thinks of San Jose as a city with lots of potential for upwardly mobile young families and individuals to enjoy. He admitted to Ms. Lemos that ten years ago the city was in no shape to attract tourists, culture vultures or trend hunters. Abandoned buildings, unkempt public spaces and poor trash collection and waste management practices actually kept people away from San Jose. Since then, Mayor Araya has been working on improving the image of the city.

In his EFE interview, Mayor Araya called attention to the urban revitalization efforts undertaken by the municipality in the last few years: the festivals, parades, exhibitions, concerts (Elton John, Joan Manuel Serrat, Joaquín Sabina, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Calle 13, Allan Parsons), the future projects (the tram and social services for the homeless), and more. According to the Mayor, all these efforts have the potential of making San Jose one of Costa Rica’s jewels. In fact, according to Diario Extra, San Jose was once declared the fifth most promising city by the Financial Times.

The charismatic Mayor of San Jose is a suave politician who has earned the nickname of Giulani Araya by some political analysts, due to his populist appeal that draws comparisons with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giulani. Pet projects like the John Lennon sculpture that sits on a park bench across from the Church of La Soledad, the next Chinatown, and his affinity for chic public art have made him an affable figure in Costa Rica. His desire of bringing some of Central Park’s charm to Costa Rica will invariably draw more comparisons to former NYC Mayor Giuliani.