Juan Pablo II Aeropark Track Closed for 40 Days for Maintenance

Cycling and athletics enthusiasts in Medellín will be temporarily left without one of the main venues when they learn that the Juan Pablo II Aeropark track will be closed for approximately 40 days. The notice was posted on the track’s railing, at career 70, and indicates that the suspension of use begins this Thursday, August 13.

Closure of the Juan Pablo II Aeropark Track

The Institute of Sports and Recreation (Inder) announced that the track will remain unavailable until the fourth week of September. During this period, users will need to seek alternatives within the Antioquia capital for outdoor activities.

Alternatives for cyclists and athletes

One of the options suggested by Inder is the Belém Sports Unit, located about five minutes from the track. In addition, the bike lanes that are open on Sundays along the South Highway remain available, offering safe routes for those who wish to ride.

Reason for the maintenance work

According to the responsible agency, the closure is due to maintenance work aimed at aligning the infrastructure with the Gran Parque Medellín project. The goal is to ensure the track meets the standards planned for the new park.

Gran Parque Medellín Project

In August 2025, Mayor Federico Gutierrez announced the construction of Gran Parque Medellín, which will replace the current Aeropark. The 210,000‑square‑meter corridor will incorporate the Mariana Pajón BMX track, the Juan Pablo II athletics and cycling circuit, the Maria Luisa Calle Sports Unit, and the Carlos Mauro Hoyos aquatic complex, as well as an artificial sea and beach zone. The total investment is estimated at about 195 million pesos.

Expectations for facility improvements

With the completion of the works, the athletics and cycling track, currently 1.5 km long, will be extended to 3 km, and more than 80,000 square meters of public areas will be created. The BMX track will receive a new surface, and the aquatic coliseum will be turned into an outdoor space with twice as many pools. These changes aim to reduce the city’s public‑space deficit, where each resident has only 5 m², according to data released by the local government.

With information from El Colombiano.