Redaccion
The project also includes improvements in the lakes, perimeter fencing, access points, pathways, signage, and the planting of palm trees and new tree species.
Alicante, March 20, 2024. The Mayor of Alicante, Luis Barcala, has announced the completion and opening for Easter of the second phase renovation of El Palmeral Park, one of the city’s most emblematic natural spaces. Barcala visited the works on Thursday, along with the Deputy Mayor and Councilor for Parks and Gardens, Manuel Villar, and municipal technicians, who were able to see the progress of the actions. Highlights include the installation of six new play areas, four for children and two for calisthenics, as well as the creation of five picnic areas and pergolas to enhance the livability of one of Alicante’s unique and emblematic parks.
The City Council of Alicante awarded these works to the company Imesapi S.A. in October of last year for 981,989 euros. The planned actions include the establishment of six large areas for children’s play and calisthenics to provide a more family-friendly and healthy environment. This intervention, along with the first phase’s development with an additional 362,153 euros, amounts to a total investment exceeding 1.3 million euros, updating a landmark environmental facility in the city that was inaugurated in 1997 and is frequented by families and many tourists who enjoy this palm grove with over seven thousand specimens, including lakes and recreational spaces overlooking the sea.
Luis Barcala stated, «The aim of this second phase is to complete the rehabilitation started last year of all its elements, but reinforcing the family character of the park by introducing six large areas of healthy children’s play and calisthenics, along with the renovation of the main access to the facilities, among other improvements.»
This second phase includes the installation of four large inclusive children’s play areas, as well as two spaces for calisthenics practice. Furthermore, it completes the enhancement of the facilities by acting on the lakes with the renovation of services, access points, perimeter fencing, some sidewalks, new signage, and the planting of palm trees, trees, and shrubs, following the project developed by the municipal technicians of ‘Brota Alicante’.
One of the improvements introduced concerns the park’s entrance, with the planting of palm trees, trees, and shrubs in the flowerbeds, the adaptation of the sidewalk, and the installation of waiting benches. The final roundabout of the front promenade has also been refurbished to facilitate bus turning.
This action completes the first phase of the park’s renovation, carried out at the beginning of 2023 by the winning company of the tender, Ingeniería del Riego y Paisaje S.L., where 362,153 euros were invested, renewing the Pum Track circuit, the jetty, pathways, bridges, and pergolas for the enjoyment of its visitors.
The project
The main feature of this project lies in the creation of six new inclusive children’s play areas and calisthenics, all adapted to current regulations, including combined games, trampolines, swings, rotating games, musical games, interactive educational games, and sports circuits. The goal of this intervention is to strengthen the park’s family character, characterized by its landscaping and its location facing the sea.
Informational signs with usage conditions will be placed in the play areas. Additionally, the installation of new benches in the square, as well as around the children’s play area, is planned, including a budget for the comprehensive design of all internal park signage.
The project for this second phase, designed by the Parks and Gardens department, also includes the dismantling of the existing metal fencing in the elevated entrance area of the park, as well as the renovation of the existing metal handrail in the center of the access stairs and the metal railing in the lake area. Paving and adaptation of pedestrian and leisure pathways, as well as improvements in the Pum Track inertia circuit area with new pavements, will be carried out, along with the adjacent play area where, in addition to the new tactile cobblestone pavement, tree planting pits will be made available.
In the children’s play area, a colored elastic safety rubber continuous pavement will be installed, with variable thickness according to the area. At the western end of the park, the existing sidewalk will be paved to continue the pedestrian route.
In terms of gardening, the current park irrigation network will be supplemented with a drip irrigation system for tree planting in pits and alignments. Different tree species will be planted in each garden area, and grass reseeding will be carried out.
To ensure the movement of large masses of water in the canals and lakes, a series of actions will be implemented in anti-carbonation and anti-chloride protection treatments for concrete and mortar elements, an extension of the water intake and chlorination equipment shed with the construction of an adjacent room.
Various improvements will also be made to the water supply and drainage installation of the lakes, as well as the adaptation of the booths supporting the equipment and their surroundings. Additionally, the rear enclosure will be renovated with a new fence.
