Long-Awaited Plans for Alicante's New €420 Million Central Park Finally Unveiled

30 Years in the Making

After more than 30 years of waiting, designs have been unveiled for Alicante's long-awaited Central Park — a transformative €420 million project that will reshape the heart of the city.

The presentation was led by Spain's Transport Minister Óscar Puente, Valencian president Juanfran Pérez Llorca and city mayor Luis Barcala.

What's Planned?

The new park will sit between the San Blas and Benalúa districts, running from Plaza de la Estrella to Vía Parque through Avenida Fiestas Populares y Tradicionales. Key features:

• 35,000m² of green space — replacing the overland railway tracks that have divided the city for decades
• Railway tracks buried underground — the current tracks will go into tunnels, removing what mayor Barcala called a "deep scar" across the city
• 1,400 housing units — a third of which will be subsidised
• Commercial and leisure spaces
• New integrated transport hub — bringing trains, trams, buses and taxis together in a redesigned area of approximately 469,000m²
• Underground car park — the current station car park goes underground, giving the park more space

Who's Paying?

The cost will be shared between the national government, the Valencian regional government and Alicante City Council. The Ministry of Transport stressed that any construction work will not interrupt rail services.

No Timescale Yet

No official timeline for the project has been declared — but the unveiling of designs marks what officials call an "important step" in turning a three-decade dream into reality.

Mayor Barcala described the plans as "transformative" for Alicante, saying the presentation was an important step to "make a dream and a desire of the city come true."

What This Means for Residents

For Alicante's residents and expats, the Central Park project promises to fundamentally change the city centre — replacing a divisive railway corridor with green space, better transport connections and new housing. It's the kind of project that could significantly boost property values in surrounding neighbourhoods.

This article is based on reporting from The Olive Press, published April 13, 2026. This article is for informational purposes only.