In the space that in the last century was occupied by the orchards next to the Besòs river in Santa Coloma, a large green core was born that during this mandate will face the definitive transformation to become a large metropolitan green lung and an area of great tourist attraction , with a family leisure park and great thermal equipment thanks to the discovery of a vein of hot water underground.
The Can Zam sector has an approximate area of 30 hectares, between the course of the Besòs river, the B20, the Roca road and the Cacaolat factory. Half of it is the green area that makes up the metropolitan park of Can Zam, which will have about 14 hectares including the green area along the river.
At the end of 1999, 10 hectares were developed between the Roca road and the Besòs river, of which nine were occupied for the construction of line 9 of the metro, until they were definitively vacated in 2013. From then, with the collaboration of the Metropolitan Area of Barcelona (AMB), the transformation of the park began with the construction of sports facilities, such as athletics tracks, two football fields, the Skatepark or the Duet sports center, as well as leisure areas and children's games and the creation of the Isabel Muñoz environmental classroom.
The second phase of the project has pending expropriations of private estates. In the scope of the Official Language School and the pétanque area. The area of the Can Zam farmhouse is also pending expropriation, and the green area of the Francesc Moragas park, pending consolidation due to the works of an underground car park which were paralyzed in 2008.
But what has really resized the Can Zam park, has been the appearance in 2018 of hot thermal water that was found in the underground of the city during the works of the L9. The studies that have been carried out in recent years confirm that the extension of the water table is more than 50 hectares, which represents an eighth of the municipal territory of Santa Coloma and extends through the districts of Fondo, Llatí and Santa Rosa. According to geological studies, their capacity is "inexhaustible" and they are of high quality in terms of mineral properties. This abundant thermal water of Santa Coloma allows the promotion of different projects linked to thermalism. One of these projects is the thermal spa that will be built in Can Zam, once the General Directorate of Energy and Mines of the Generalitat has already granted exclusivity for the exploitation of the thermal waters, which allows bidding for two new wells necessary to accurately determine the characteristics of the aquifer (flow, maximum temperature, etc.), as well as its properties.
The second step is to determine the quality of the water and the uses to which it can be put.
Meanwhile, Santa Coloma de Gramenet will receive the Thermal City seal awarded by the Association of Thermal Villages of Catalonia, to which it is affiliated. The priority, according to the mayoress, "is to create a public thermal leisure center" that is a metropolitan reference and a first-rate tourist attraction. Other projects, such as its use to create a public network of hot water and renewable energy in public buildings, due to the high economic cost will have to wait until European funding is obtained.
"This mandate is the time to definitively promote Can Zam" says the mayor of Santa Coloma, Núria Parlon. He proposes that the emblematic local park be a large green and leisure lung that has already begun to be designed with the five million euro subsidy committed by the Minister of Culture, Miquel Iceta for the construction of a complex sporty
"All of this gives meaning to our philosophy of having a large green and leafy park, but also with new equipment to enjoy it" emphasizes the mayoress, such as the new Olympic swimming pool that will be built. With the latter, Can Zam will have two swimming pools, the 50 meter one and the current 25 meter one. In this same area, a space for the elderly will be created, "a health space", explains Parlon.
The new sports equipment, located in an area of 9,000 m2, apart from the two swimming pools will include a gym, a space for the practice of rhythmic and artistic gymnastics, as well as a multipurpose space for the practice of skating, dancing and other sports activities; in particular, those intended for elderly people.
One of the most powerful environmental aspects of the new Can Zam, according to the mayoress, is the naturalization, which will have the planting of 48 trees on the slopes that will surround what the City Council calls "the great clearing", a space multipurpose open where events such as the popular RockFest can be held, but also "sporting, social, cultural and also civic events".
The green and leafy areas will be a constant in the perimeter, but also the leisure spaces. In this sense, the mayor announces an investment of 950,000 euros for an "inclusive park" with adapted children's games.
The citizen participation process that took place between 2017 and 2018 brought proposals for other activities to Can Zam, which will be promoted in a second phase. Citizens voted on projects such as the creation of a bush maze, a botanical and science garden, a river forest, a traditional play area, a climbing wall, a porch, a gazebo and a kiosk, zipline parks and a vertical forest, drinking water fountains, dance floors, floral tapestries and shaded areas. In the same vein, they voted for areas for dogs, urban gardens and outdoor exercise areas for the elderly. Likewise, it is proposed to reformulate the esplanade in front of the lake, preserving the natural amphitheater.
