Igualada Central Park

The Central Park of Igualada is the largest free space in the city and gives continuity to the Green Ring, linking the urban area with the natural environment of the Òdena streamflow. Once completed, the project facilitated the connection of pedestrians and bicycles with the natural areas close to the city of Igualada, favoring the development of healthy and recreational activities in contact with nature.

The project preserves the maximum permeable soil surface and improves existing drains with the incorporation of areas depressed by the accumulation of surface runoff water.

The drainage system is designed with the aim of redirecting all the infiltrated rainwater to irrigate the vegetation of the bleachers and lateral slopes: a continuous system of gravel ditches that runs along the entire length of the bleachers, unfolded in correspondence with the planted areas so that the wet areas are distributed and the roots of the plants can obtain the maximum benefit.

A large “Oloretum” of aromatic and native plants, divided into seven groups of different flowering species, forms the continuous garden, attracting many species of native and Mediterranean butterflies. Trees planted in small groups, both in the bleachers and on the lateral slope, are deciduous and have the purpose of shading users during the warmer months of the year.

The park’s central space is the protagonist of many temporary events, the most important of which is the European Balloon Festival, which takes place annually in the first week of July.

In 2017, the northern margin of this space has been completed, creating a bleacher that can accommodate up to 1500 people for large events.