San Francisco de Heredia will soon be home to Oxígeno, a unique recreational and commercial space that combines nature and human relaxation in a development that “will be unique in the world,” said Cuestamoras board president Manuel Zuñiga.

Cuestamoras, owners of the Fischel pharmacy chain in Costa Rica, “is committed to becoming a multibusiness leader in the Americas across a range of industries and countries,’ according to their website.

Their current business interests include health, urban development, and renewable energy.  The company has carried out other unique development projects in the greater San José metropolitan area including Distrito Cuatro in Escazú, Pinares Momentum, Forum, and Latitud Dent.

Last week at a groundbreaking ceremony, Cuestamoras’ investors planted Oxígeno’s first tree, rather than the traditional placing of the first stone, saying it was symbolic of a project that would become “a benchmark for sustainable development.”

The 200,000-plus square meter “human playground” will include 200 solar panels, and utilize a rainwater collection and irrigation system for its park featuring 200 types of native trees. In addition to leased commercial sites, the project envisions an “integrated, organic, and vibrant community that allows its visitors to experience a peaceful lifestyle, far from hectic daily routines, and fosters a connection with nature that is part of being Costa Rican and which is under threat by humanity today,” said Zuñiga.

Oxígeno involves a US$200 million investment, and will include entertainment spaces, exercise areas, and restaurants, and will generate an estimate 2,000 jobs during its construction and an equal figure for its operation, said the developers.