The urban ‘beach’ of Madrid Río and the misting pergolas in the parks of La Gavia and Plaza de España have come into operation this Friday for the enjoyment of residents and visitors. The switch-on took place at noon in the presence of the Delegate for Urban Planning, Environment, and Mobility, Borja Carabante, who visited the iconic park that buried the M-30. The popular ‘jets’ will operate during the summer period from 11:00 to 21:00 hours.
This year, as announced by Carabante, the Madrid City Council has taken a step further in expanding refreshing areas for citizens. Plaza de Milmarcos in the Villa de Vallecas district, Calle de Murcia in Arganzuela, and Avenida de Oporto in Carabanchel have had temporary low-consumption misters since June 2nd and throughout the season.
This is a pilot project developed for these locations in collaboration between the Urban Planning, Environment, and Mobility; Works and Equipment; and the autonomous body Madrid Salud. Its operation is on-demand: the user presses a button when they want to cool off. After the experience, the results will be analyzed for implementation in those points or other locations in the capital.
The Madrid City Council is committed to adapting the city to extreme weather conditions. Therefore, the creation of public spaces that prioritize the comfort and quality of life of the people of Madrid is essential, with the installation of these refreshing points forming part of the City Council’s action protocol to respond to heatwaves.
This is the Madrid ‘beach’
The urban ‘beach’ of Madrid Río, located in the Arganzuela park, was the result of a children’s and youth ideas contest held in 2005, with the participation of 3,525 students from across the city. Its facilities include three oval-shaped water areas where visitors can enjoy a variety of water effects, including surface sheets for relaxation, 72 water jets of different heights, and clouds of sprayed water through 315 nozzles that refresh the environment.
Madrid Río, part of the extension of the Arganzuela park, is one of the major green lungs of the city center and covers 232,000 m2. The rest areas, covering over 6,500 m2, shaded by nearly 300 trees, provide an ideal environment to enjoy hot days safely and comfortably.
La Gavia Park, with a misting pergola since 2023
La Gavia Park joined the fight against high temperatures in 2023 with a misting pergola. Located in the Bosque de los Sentidos, near the main entrance of the area, this structure has an advanced air conditioning system that sprays water, creating a fine mist covering an area of 200 m2. This system helps reduce the ambient temperature, offering a refreshing refuge for visitors.
The pergola, surrounded by gardens and adorned with climbing roses, is equipped with its own irrigation system, including ten benches that invite rest and socialization. Its strategic location allows users to enjoy views of the landscaped areas and monitor nearby children’s zones.
Misters in the children’s play area at Plaza de España
The misters that complement the installation of the children’s play area at Plaza de España have also been put into operation. These umbrella-shaped structures, equipped with misters, create a cooling effect in the environment by spraying water in very fine droplets that quickly evaporate upon contact with the air, absorbing ambient heat and reducing the temperature.
This cooling not only allows children to play more comfortably and safely during hot days but also contributes to their overall well-being, allowing them to enjoy the outdoors without the risk of excessive heat. Additionally, the presence of these misters promotes physical activity and outdoor playtime, essential for the physical and emotional development of young children.
The pergolas operate on the same schedule as the Madrid Río beach, from 11:00 to 21:00 hours. /
