Bogotá is home to more than 8 million people and continues to grow rapidly. The city faces the challenge of providing accessible and high-quality spaces for physical activity, recreation and culture. However, for many years, most sports and recreational facilities were concentrated in specific neighbourhoods, limiting opportunities for many residents to take part in activities that support their health and well-being.
In terms of physical activity, the challenge globally is striking. According to the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), in the Region of the Americas 35.6% of adults did not meet the recommended levels in 2022, with higher rates among women 40.6% than men 30.5%.
To address this need, the city created the Happiness Centres (Centros Felicidad in Spanish or CEFEs), designed to ensure that everyone, regardless of age or socioeconomic background, has access to modern spaces where they can be active, explore hobbies and connect with others.
Expanding access to well-being
The Happiness Centres were introduced between 2016 and 2019, inspired by the idea of offering facilities similar to private clubs but open to everyone, resulting in places where health, culture and recreation come together.
Bogotá currently has five CEFEs in operation, located in four districts where public facilities for sport, culture and recreation were previously limited, helping to decentralise opportunities and ensure broader access to modern, inclusive and safe environments. These centres are located in the Districts of El Tunal, Fontanar del Río, Cometas, San Cristóbal and Chapinero, and two additional centers are under construction in the Kennedy District and Santa Fe District.
Bogotá’s Institute of Sports and Recreation, 2025
Together, these centres represent a network of public facilities that includes gyms, swimming pools, multipurpose courts, auditoriums, libraries and shared spaces for arts, music and innovation. Each CEFE also offers different activities and classes led by qualified instructors, such as swimming, boxing and dance lessons. They also host cultural events such as festivals, concerts and other performances, turning these centres into vibrant places for community life.
The CEFEs combine modern and accessible designs with the ambition of becoming community hubs, yet their success depends on boosting participation.
Bogotá’s Institute of Sports and Recreation, 2025
The challenge of encouraging community use
Our CityMove team in Bogotá led by Fundación Universitaria Juan N. Corpas, in line with the Global Action Plan on Physical Activity 2018–2030 (GAPPA), is studying the role of the CEFEs and developing methodologies to strengthen their sustainability. To support this, they have developed Urban Living Labs (LL) for residents, governmental and private institutions for the co-creation of innovative solutions that increase the use of the CEFEs.
The first Living Lab pilot supported by CityMove is CEFELiz, developed together with the Secretariat of Culture and the Institute of Sports and Recreation (IDRD). Through this pilot, CityMove is testing how participatory and context-specific approaches can strengthen the use and impact of the CEFEs.
Their methodology aims to understand the role of the CEFEs and increase participation through:
- Participatory and creative design, adapted to the local context.
- Fieldwork across the five CEFEs, including discussion groups and social mapping activities.
- Data collection and feedback, combining surveys and community narratives .
Their action plan includes a training course on Urban Living Labs, the collective definition of happiness, and its measurement through cultural, social and health indicators. The evidence collected will inform the sustainability of the CEFEs and contribute to CityMove’s broader mission of promoting healthier and more inclusive cities.
Bogotá’s Institute of Sports and Recreation, 2025
In the coming months, the CityMove Bogotá team, together with the Secretariat of Culture and the IDRD, will continue with the implementation of CEFELiz. The results will provide evidence of the role of the CEFEs, highlight good practices for sustainability, and share lessons learned to other cities that want to develop hubs of inclusion and well-being.
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