Parque Sólon de Lucena, Urban park in João Pessoa, Brazil

Parque Sólon de Lucena, known as Parque da Lagoa, is a public park in central João Pessoa. Its centrepiece is a large circular water mirror bordered by imperial palms, with grassy banks and a paved walkway along the edge. The beds, designed with input from Roberto Burle Marx in 1940, hold ipês, pau-brasis, acácias and a long bamboo grove.

The site was originally a Jesuit property called Lagoa dos Irerês before being converted to a public park in the early 20th century. This transformation occurred under a governor's administration and marked the transition from private to public space.

The park is named after a governor who oversaw its transformation into a public space. Local residents gather here regularly to enjoy the green surroundings and spend time with family and friends.

The park sits in the centre of João Pessoa, ringed by shops, supermarkets, bus stops and hotels, so it is easy to reach on foot from the surrounding streets. The water is polluted by sewage from central storm drains, so keep to the paved walkways and grass rather than the lagoon edge. The yellow ipês flower from September to November.

The lagoon was once called Lagoa dos Irerês, after the many marrecos (ducks) that came to its waters to breed and feed. Before becoming a park it lay on a Jesuit property and later hosted the Engenho da Lagoa. On 25 August 1975, a barge carrying too many passengers during Soldier's Day celebrations capsized here, drowning 35 people, 29 of them children.