The controversial Chamberí park, which was previously a golf course designed by Esperanza Aguirre's team, opened its doors to the public last weekend in Madrid.
Strong neighborhood pressure has made it become one of the great green lungs of the capital, with 55,000 square meters of green area. This new leisure park is one of those that has caused the most headaches for the Madrid PP. To such an extent that the former president of the Community of Madrid, Ignacio González, will sit on the bench for some controversial awards.
For almost fifteen years, several neighborhood organizations (Parque Sí, El Organillo and Corazón Verde) fought in court until the courts declared the construction of the golf course illegal for having ignored various regulations in the tenders.
Called Parque de Santander, it is located in the Chamberí district and has more than 1,000 new trees and entertainment areas. Its reform began in 2021, with an investment of 10 million euros.
The new park has been erected after the regional government dismantled some sports facilities, including some golf holes that former president Esperanza Aguirre promoted despite neighborhood protests, and for whose construction the justice system will sit González on the bench for alleged irregularities in the award.
This public venue now has more than 55,000 square meters of green areas, 40% more than before the remodeling, within a 12-hectare plot, located on one of the historic Canal de Isabel II water storage tanks.
With this, the quality of life of all the residents will be significantly improved, whose demands have also been incorporated when preparing the project.
Other sports areas and different areas for the development of cultural programs have been added to the natural spaces. Thus, to the perimeter running circuit another one is now added for walking and new meeting points for recreational and cultural uses, such as a shadow walk or the expansion of the water area. Neighborhood associations participated in the design of the current park.
On social networks, this weekend, there has been a lot of criticism of the PP and more specifically of Isabel Díaz Ayuso for inaugurating it in the electoral campaign. And remembering all the efforts of the neighbors to turn it into a leisure park without golf courses.
This park will be fully accessible for people with reduced mobility and will offer entertainment options for all ages, including a children's play area adapted for children with behavioral disorders or visual and hearing deficits. With 4,500 square meters for the little ones (from 0 to 12 years old), it will allow all kinds of activities to be carried out, both in groups and individually.
As for the sports spaces, they will also double their surface area compared to the previous one, with around 24,000 square meters. In addition to the existing soccer and paddle tennis courts, there will be new ones, such as basketball courts, volleyball courts, a climbing wall, a bio-healthy circuit, and the possibility of practicing calisthenics.
