Efforts to create a large, urban park in Hermosillo are moving forward, with state leaders securing the purchase of an additional 420 acres of land for the project.

Piggybacking on grassroots efforts by Hermosillo residents, Sonoran Governor Alfonso Durazo has committed to making a large urban park out of an area known as La Sauceda — an abandoned theme park and a small nearby wetland area.

Now, state leaders have now purchased additional land in the Cerro de la Cementera hills nearby, securing a total of about 550 acres for the park.

Durazo says the park will become the lungs of the city, and has compared it to the iconic Chapuletpec park in Mexico City.

Officials say they will reforest the area and add walking and biking trails and a scenic lookout.

The governor has promised to invest more than $25 million in La Sauceda the project. The additional land was purchased for just under $200,000.