Date Published: 23/07/2025

Historic water tanks in Lorca to become sustainable urban park

Lorca’s Santa María neighbourhood will benefit from a green space transformation and rainwater reuse system

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.

For more local news, events and visiting information, you can go to the home page of Lorca Today

Images: Ayuntamiento de Lorca

Linea Directa Bottom Article A-L CAR INSURANCE

Address

Plaza de Espana, 30800 Lorca

Tel: 968 441914 (Fax 968 466157)

View Google Map

Oficina de Turismo de Lorca

Lorca Tourist Office

The rich and extensive history of Lorca has left a legacy of archaeological sites, and historic buildings, around which the modern City has built its tourism industry. Amongst these are Lorca Castle, the Jewish Quarter of the castle and Synagogue, Lorca Tourist Office Plaza de España, Colegiata de San Patricio, Museo de Arqueologico Municipal, Iglesia de San Francisco, Casa Huerto Ruano, Palacio de Guevara, Iglesia de San Mateo, Pósito de los Panaderos, Convento Virgen de las Huertas, Antiguo Convento de la Merced, Iglesia del Carmen and the Teatro Guerra.

Unfortunately Lorca has also been prone to natural disaster, suffering a Gota Fría on September 28th 2012, as well as an earthquake which measured 5.3 on the Richter scale on 11th May 2011 and claimed 9 lives. Since this earthquake the city has been rebuilding, winning recognition for its Lorca, Open for Restoration initiative, which used the restoration of the city as a tourist attraction whilst it rebuilt its historical buildings, some of which are currently still not open.

Lorca Tourist Office The tourist office itself has temporarily relocated until the renovations are completed and is on Calle San Patricio near the church.

Lorca also has an area of coastline incorporating the Parque Regional de Cabo Cope - Puntas de Calnegre, in the Sierra de Almenara, which includes the beaches of, Puntas de Calnegre, Baño de las Mujeres, San Lorca Tourist Office Pedro, El Siscal, Cala Honda, Cuartel del Ciscar, Junquera, Cala de la Gruta, Cala Leña, Los Hierros, Cala Blanca and Playa Larga, although many are accessible only through agricultural exploitations.

However, in spite of its many attractions, the name of Lorca is synonymous with Easter, (Semana Santa) its biblical parades of International Tourist Interest status and famous throughout Spain. The week includes a Lorca Tourist Office series of parades in which the whites (Paso Blanco) and blues (Paso Azúl) try to outdo each other with the magnificence of their embroideries and the skill and daring of their horsemen.