Valencia Gets a "Central Park" of its Own

Spain's third largest city has chosen the winning design for a new urban park that is to sit atop nine rail lines, potentially creating the most important redevelopment project the country has seen in many years.

1 minute read

February 16, 2011, 9:00 AM PST

By Shay Kahen


The "parque central" will encompass several new gardens, a plaza, art center, library, visitor center, and amphitheater, adding new life to the Mediterranean city of Valencia.

"Mary Bowman, Director of Gustafson Porter [one of the winning firms], described the project: 'The Valencia Central Park [...] will dramatically improve the quality of life for residents by creating 23 hectares of gardens, large green open spaces, play areas and cultural and educational activity spaces within the heart of the city. A new residential quarter with neighbourhood parks and gardens covering another 43 hectares forms part of this ambitious project. It is fantastic that a landscape project has been given this level of prominence in the redevelopment of the city.'"

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