The project to expand the sports area of in Rincón de Loix and create a large flood park passes the first filter of Europe

The mayor of Benidorm, Toni Pérez, has announced today that 'BenidO2rm' project, presented by the City Council with the help of Dinapsis to develop a flooded urban park and expand the sports area of ​ Rincón de Loix, has passed the first cufilterof the Initiative Innovative Urban Actions (UIA) of the European Union. As indicated, this week the entity in charge of the UIA has informed the City Council that the project is "eligible" and has passed "the first step of the selection process" to qualify for FEDER funds within the fourth call of this program .

Pérez recalled that the project was approved unanimously in full on January 28 and is quantified at 3 million euros. In case, if finally elected, the European Union would finance 80% of the execution cost.

The mayor stressed that "Benidorm had the capacity and political and technical motivation to stand for the fourth edition of the UIA initiative" with a project that encompasses a large green area of ​​action of 30,000 square meters, in which "the sports area 'Antonio López', which would add a new football field to the two existing ones; the current urban park of the Rincón de Loix; and the municipal plot located next to the La Torreta social center ".

"The peculiarity of this park is that it is flooded, thus solving an important problem" that occurred in the area "before episodes of rain." Thus, on the surface that corresponds to the plot next to the social center, it proposes to build a lamination pool that collects the rainwater from the Barceló and Derramador ravines when rainfall occurs. Once collected, this water would be removed from the trawl contamination, preventing it from reaching the beach; and later it would regenerate 'in situ' to be reused in the irrigation of the park itself, of the sports fields and also, in the future, of other public and private green areas. This flooded part of the park is configured so that it does not affect the rest of the facilities.

In addition, this large green and sports area would be connected "with the large green we are completing", which starts from the area of ​​El Moralet to reach the Corner of Loix integrating the parks of Foietes, L'Aigüera and Sequia Mare and the ravines of Barceló and Derramador.

Pérez said that having passed this first phase shows that "we are in the right direction", working on proposals to make "Benidorm grow and grow well, within the framework of sustainability".

Characteristics and requirements of the fourth UIA call

The fourth call of the UIA initiative, to which 175 proposals have been submitted, has a budget of 372 million euros to develop projects across Europe linked to the digital transition, urban poverty, urban security, and sustainable use of the soil - solutions based on nature. In this last thematic area, the 'BenidO2rm' project is framed.

The mayor stressed that "Benidorm, with Dinapsis Operation & Lab as a technological partner - an essential requirement - had the capacity and the political and technical motivation to take on this fourth call" with a project that "has passed the first phase" and that is "very well positioned". Although there is no pre-established official calendar, the call could be resolved during the summer.

The bases of the UIA program contemplate financing up to 80% of the cost of the selected projects, with a maximum amount of 5 million euros. These projects must be executed within a maximum period of 3 years.