Alicante unveils plans for region’s largest park at Rabasa Lagoons

ALICANTE is working on plans for the largest park in the region, which will be developed within the area of Lagunas de Rabasa and will span an impressive 152.3 hectares, larger than the sum of all current urban parks in the city of Alicante. The massive project includes the conservation and improvement of the lagoons in the area and their natural surroundings, and also includes the creation of hiking trails, viewpoints, rest areas and environmental facilities.

What are the Rabasa Lagoons in Alicante?

The Lagunas de Rabasa, or Rabasa Lagoons, are one of Alicante’s most popular hotspots, particularly with sports tourists and hikers. It is an area characterised by a group of artificial lakes located north of the main city of Alicante, near the Rabasa district and the A-70 motor road. Formerly clay quarries and mining excavation areas in the 20th century, the area was flooded with water and eventually became the three main, deep lagoons that Alicante locals recognise today.

Alicante’s most ambitious project in nearly four decades

The draft for the park plans is still in processing, and has been called the most relevant urban planning document for Alicante in the last 39 years. The plan requires careful and diligent planning for the social and economic development of the municipality, as well as the planning of infrastructure, facilities and open spaces for the next two decades. The park, once completed, will act as a natural link between the urban centre of Alicante and the surrounding countryside, creating a hub that connects neighbourhoods and other green spaces in the municipality.

The main aims of the park project

The project will contemplate restoration and conservation of lagoons, including the indigenous species of the area. It will also encourage educational and recreational use by the citizens and visitors in Alicante; enhance the value of heritage and ethnological elements linked to the area; and consolidate the Rabasa Lagoons Park as a great landscape and natural landmark for Alicante.