The Exposició neighbourhood now has a play area: 100 m² with play equipment, benches, and new irrigation, resulting from participatory budgets.
The landscaped area of the Plaza de la Legión Española, between numbers 2 and 8 on Blasco Ibáñez Avenue, has opened a children's playground this Monday, responding to a long-standing demand from families in the Exposició neighbourhood. The new facility, promoted by the Department of Parks and Gardens, opens its doors with a play surface of nearly 100 square metres and equipment for children aged two and above.
The initiative stems from a community proposal included in the 2022-2023 participatory budgets, which identified the lack of a children's recreational space in an area with a high presence of families. The councillor for the area, Mónica Gil, has stated that the measure addresses “a real need of the neighbourhood” and has assured that “listening to residents and transforming their demands into concrete actions is the best way to manage.”
The playground has been integrated into the existing garden without altering its original configuration: the trees and the perimeter hedge have been fully preserved, continuing to act as a natural barrier against traffic. The central feature is the play structure “Sendero del Prado”, designed for children over two years old, set on a continuous safety-approved surface to cushion falls.
In addition to the play area, two resting areas have been created with four backed benches and two ischiatic supports, along with new bins and signage. The renovation has also modernised the garden's infrastructure: the irrigation network has been adapted to the new layout, the sprinklers have been checked, and conduits and drains have been incorporated under the pavement to prevent flooding.
Mónica Gil emphasised that “parks cannot remain stagnant” and that the intervention in the Plaza de la Legión Española is an example of how to meet community demands. The councillor has indicated that the Valencia City Council will continue to act in neighbourhoods with “useful and well-planned investments” to care for the city's green heritage.
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