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The City Council of Lorca has announced an ambitious plan to transform the disused water tanks in the Santa María neighbourhood into the heart of a new sustainable urban park. The project aims to turn an abandoned site in the historic centre into an innovative green space focused on environmental regeneration and climate resilience.

 

The announcement was made on Tuesday July 22 during a site visit by Urban Planning Councillor María Hernández, accompanied by Councillors Rosa María Medina and Belén Díaz.

 

Ms Hernández described the initiative as a key step in reclaiming neglected infrastructure for modern, sustainable urban use.

 

The existing tanks will be repurposed as a central collection and storage system for rainwater. A biofilter will be installed next to the old prison to collect and purify water, which will then be transported to the rehabilitated tanks to irrigate the new park. This closed-loop system will ensure the space can be maintained with minimal external water use.

 

We are not only recovering a degraded space, but transforming it into a system that will manage water efficiently and naturally, adapting our environment to the effects of climate change,” the councillor explained.

 

She added that water has always played a fundamental role in Lorca’s development and this initiative recovers part of that legacy.

 

“Thanks to the NatUR-W project, we are turning water into a tool to beautify and improve the surroundings of the Santa María neighbourhood, the historic centre and support the social, economic and environmental regeneration of the entire area.”

 

The park project forms part of the European Union’s NatUR-W Innovative Urban Actions scheme, which supports climate action and combats energy poverty through nature-based solutions. In Lorca, the programme also includes the renovation of the old prison building and energy efficiency upgrades to social housing.

 

Local Development Councillor Rosa María Medina explained that the transformation will cover a 3,110 square metre area between calles Rincón de Bautista and Laberinto. The land was recently transferred to the City Council by the Taibilla Canal Association.

 

“These facilities were in a state of disrepair, but they offer great potential thanks to their elevated position and panoramic views,” Ms Medina said.

 

The urban park will feature green walls to reduce energy use in public buildings, recycled insulation materials, bioclimatic zones for shade and cooling and areas for social gathering and recreation. The space will also be better connected with the rest of the city, addressing a long-standing demand from residents.

 

Additional works include landscaping, paving, installation of modern street furniture, energy-efficient lighting and upgrades to the sanitation and water networks. Ms Medina emphasised that the goal is to create both a community hub and a model of sustainable city planning.

 

“We want this park to be a meeting place for the people of Lorca and at the same time, an example of how nature can be integrated into the city in an innovative and efficient way,” she said.

 

The project has a total budget of just over €838,000 and is expected to take eight months to complete once work begins. Companies interested in bidding have until September 5 to submit their offers, with construction set to start before the end of the year.

 

The plan echoes another recent project in Lorca, where students helped restore a historic washhouse by the Coy river beach.

 

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Images: Ayuntamiento de Lorca