Parque Independencia marks the boundary between the Zona Colonial and the modern city, at the western gate through the colonial walls. At its centre is the Altar de la Patria — a classical mausoleum containing the remains of the three founding fathers of the Dominican Republic: Juan Pablo Duarte, Francisco del Rosario Sánchez, and Ramón Matías Mella.
The park is a natural meeting place and transit point between the old city and Gazcue. The Puerta del Conde gate at the park's edge is where Dominican independence was declared in 1844, making it one of the most symbolically significant spots in the country. In the evenings the park fills with vendors, families, and students from the nearby university.