Parque Halfeld is a small but well-kept public garden in the centre of Juiz de Fora, a few blocks from the main pedestrian street. It was laid out in the 19th century and named, like the street nearby, after the German engineer who shaped much of the city's early urban form. Benches under large trees, a bandstand, and a fountain make it the most pleasant square in the city centre.
On weekday mornings the park fills with elderly residents and schoolchildren; on weekends there are occasional outdoor concerts. It functions as the lungs of the dense commercial district around it, and even a short break here provides some relief from the bustle of the streets.