Here at Parque Edu Chaves we stand. It’s a place named for a pioneer. Eduardo Pacheco Chaves was no ordinary man. Some even say that the district was used as a training track. But the truth is that the airfield and hangars used by Edu Chaves were located in Jaçanã. They were in the area now occupied by Aliança Metalúrgica.
Parque Edu Chaves is more than just a name. It is a tribute to a Brazilian aviation pioneer. Edu Chaves was the first to get his pilot’s license in Brazil. This happened in July 1911. He was a friend of Alberto Santos-Dumont.
Edu Chaves also opened Brazil’s first school for pilots. He was the first to fly from São Paulo to Buenos Aires. He did this in a Curtiss plane. It had 150 HP.
Look around you at Parque Edu Chaves. It is located in São Paulo. It sits on the edge of the Cabuçu de Cima River. It also borders the Fernão Dias Highway. It even shares a border with Guarulhos.
Originally, this area was swampy. It was covered in low vegetation. It was used for cattle grazing. The Cabuçu de Cima River often flooded. After the river was channeled, property values rose. Parque Edu Chaves became more desirable.
The district was carefully planned. Its design was inspired by the Place D’Etoile in Paris. This is where the Arc de Triomphe stands. Notice the central square. It is called Comandante Eduardo de Oliveira. The streets are circular and radial. They are wide flat and tree-lined.
Many streets here are named after military officers. This honors those who contributed to the district. The neighborhood has a large population of military families. These include ex-military families.
In 1953 the neighborhood began to grow. Three hundred houses were built. These were financed by the Caixa Econômica. They were sold to sergeants of the Public Force.
The Sociedade Amigos do Parque Edu Chaves “Sapec” was founded in 1957. Arlindo de Souza Pícoli a sergeant of the Public Force helped to found it. It still works to improve the neighborhood today.
In 1980 the Lions Club Parque Edu Chaves was created. Anildo Baldin and others founded it. They wanted to serve the community. It functioned for about 10 years. It made an important contribution to the social area.
In 1991 the biggest flood in the district’s history occurred. This led to the creation of “S.O.S Enchentes”. Moacir Maiochi led this group. Through his efforts the Cabuçu de Cima River was channeled. This solved the flooding problem.
The Associaçăo dos Comerciantes do Parque Edu Chaves “A.C.O.M.P.E.C” was founded in 2002. Marcos Roberto Seicho and other local merchants founded it. One of their achievements was a new access to the neighborhood. This was via the Fernão Dias Highway.
The Brigada Ecológica Edu Chaves was founded in 1994. It focuses on planting trees. The group contributes to improving the quality of life in the community. They transform Parque Edu Chaves into one of the most pleasant places to live in São Paulo.
Even today Parque Edu Chaves offers something special. The “Barbearia do Alfredo” founded in 1957 is a meeting point. People gather to discuss current events. It is a place to share stories and laughter. It preserves a dynamic of real life.
So remember Edu Chaves. He was more than just a pilot. He was a pioneer. He helped shape this vibrant neighborhood. Parque Edu Chaves stands as a testament to his vision. It is a place of community progress and natural beauty.