The plaza was also a convenient place for military parades and gatherings, which created the nickname Plaza de Armas (Armaments Plaza). The name Parque Central (Central Park) came to be in the twentieth century once the government changed the plaza into a garden. The park is surrounded by beautiful trees and colonial buildings, including the San Jose Cathedral, and, is open twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. The park is still a popular destination for tourists and locals today and is one of the best places to meet with friends or family, or just to people-watch.