Benidorm's new parks and gardens contract will increase green space by 30% and will be more sustainable

This morning, Benidorm City Council presented the new green space conservation, maintenance, and cleaning service, which will be managed by the concessionaire Actúa. The service, which is now fully operational, will increase the municipality's green space and represent a step forward in consolidating a green infrastructure that is "more efficient, resilient, and adapted to future climate challenges," according to Mayor Toni Pérez.

The mayor was accompanied by the Councilor for Parks and Gardens, José Ramón González de Zárate; the Technical Director of Actúa, Daniel Puchol; and the team leader, Ruth Velázquez. At the presentation, which also showcased much of the new fleet and machinery that the concessionaire will use, it was highlighted that the town boasts nearly 42,000 trees and over 1.5 million square meters of parks and gardens. The new service will entail “an urban greening strategy aimed at improving environmental quality and citizen well-being,” said Toni Pérez.

The mayor emphasized “the leap in service quality” in terms of modernity and forward-thinking approach with the incorporation of “state-of-the-art vehicles with ECO labels.” He described the fleet as “incredible” and the staff as comprised of 35 professionals. Pérez reiterated the goal of increasing green space by 30%, “although we already have very positive figures resulting from a strategy linked to the Climate Action Plan.” In this regard, Toni Pérez emphasised that the city's parks and gardens "already exceed one and a half million square meters, so we are gaining comfort and environmental quality while contributing to improving the air we breathe." Similarly, the mayor noted that the City Council contributes to the well-being of citizens "through the naturalisation and renaturalization projects we carry out on all the roads where we work."

Among the main actions included in the new service are the maintenance of vertical gardens, green roofs, and new floral arrangements that will bring colour, freshness, and biodiversity to various urban spaces, as Councilor José Ramón González de Zárate highlighted, stating that "we will reinforce the presence of flowers in the city, creating more attractive and colourful areas."

Furthermore, the introduction of native species adapted to the Mediterranean climate will be encouraged, promoting the resilience of the urban ecosystem and reducing water requirements.

The renewal of the fleet and machinery with ECO vehicles and electric equipment will contribute to reducing the carbon footprint and polluting emissions, as well as promoting ecological connectivity between natural and urban spaces and consolidating a more resilient green infrastructure prepared for climate change. All actions, as the mayor emphasised, are aligned with the Climate Change Adaptation Plan (PACC) and the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (PACES) of the Benidorm City Council.

The team consists of 35 professionals already working in the municipality who have received “specific training in occupational risk prevention and environmental awareness, thus guaranteeing a safe, qualified service aligned with the sustainability criteria of the contract,” Pérez noted.

González de Zárate, for his part, emphasised the significant leap in quality represented by this new contract, which includes a new feature: a citizen communication and participation service. This service will have staff and teams in each neighbourhood to coordinate with residents, allowing them to offer suggestions for improved maintenance and conservation of green spaces. A citizen communication and participation channel will also be created through the City Council's official social media profiles under the name @BenidormVerdeesVida, to showcase conservation, planting, and beautification efforts, as well as to disseminate information and advice on sustainability and biodiversity.

Finally, Daniel Puchol stressed the substantial investment made to address the new areas and adapt to evolving environmental responsibility trends, an investment that will enhance the capacity for adaptation and modernisation of all services provided.