“Six times the size of Ibirapuera Park” that is a great benchmark to start to describe the Parque Natural Municipal do Pedroso. Covering over 815 hectares this park is a haven of the Mata Atlântica.
Parque Natural Municipal do Pedroso is a vital conservation area. It is a place where you can see how important nature is to this region. Established in 1998 the park is an integral part of the Reserva da Biosfera. It also falls within the Área de Proteção e Recuperação de Mananciais. This is part of the Billings-Tamanduateí hydrographic basin.
The Parque Natural Municipal do Pedroso connects with the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar. This makes it the largest protected area in Santo André. It forms a continuous barrier of Mata Atlântica vegetation. This barrier separates the urban area from the Billings Reservoir. The park borders São Bernardo do Campo, Mauá and the Parque Miami neighborhood.
Historically the area belonged to the Pedroso family. It was once used for charcoal production and later fragmented into various properties. Since the 1940s it has been used for water collection and supply.
In the early 1970s the area opened to the public. The Capela de Santa Cruz was moved here. This chapel was built by the region’s old loggers. In 1979 the park was renamed Parque Regional e Jardim Botânico do Pedroso. During this time kiosks with barbecues sports courts and recreational equipment were built.
The park boasts an important water system. The Pedroso stream microbasin lies entirely within the park. It features 33 springs and 15 lakes. Until 2019 Semasa captured water here. This water was treated at the Guarará Water Treatment Station and supplied to 6% of Santo André’s population. Today Sabesp handles all water capture and distribution in the municipality. The Pedroso reservoir is no longer used for this purpose.
Once upon a time a cable car was installed in the Parque do Pedroso in 1979. Inaugurated in 1982 the cable car became a major tourist attraction. Sadly it fell into disrepair and was scrapped in 1990. The cable car spanned 1.5 km with a height of 180 meters.
In 2017 Parque Natural Municipal do Pedroso underwent revitalization. Benches kiosks tables trash cans and barbecues were renovated. Due to high costs the cable car could not be restored.
Now as you explore the Parque Natural Municipal do Pedroso remember its history. Consider its importance to the Mata Atlântica. Imagine the cable car soaring through the landscape. This park connects us to nature’s resilience.