Loures presents the green riverside park that will be born on the WYD site

The development of the western coastal front, between Cascais and Lisbon, was very different from that of the coastal area between Lisbon and Vila Franca de Xira. If in the first one a close relationship with the sea developed, with bathing areas, residential areas, commerce and services, in the second one there was a historical disconnection between the urbanized areas and the waterfront. Factories and all the road, rail and other infrastructures associated with an industrial area were installed in the latter. If Expo'98 allowed the whole western part of Lisbon to be opened to people, removing industry from the Tagus front, this urban regeneration did not extend to the rest of the coast. Vila Franca de Xira, however, has created a set of pedestrian and cycle paths on its waterfront, occasionally associated with urban parks. This work has not yet been completed and, in the meantime, Loures is starting its park.

With the construction of the Loures River PathWith the completion of a 6.1km set of pedestrian and cycling walkways between the municipalities of Lisbon and Vila Franca nearing (the inauguration is scheduled for mid-August), Loures is now looking to the future of the grounds that will host World Youth Day (WYD) pilgrims. This major event has prompted the relocation of the existing container terminal there to the North Park of the Bobadela Logistics Complex, outside the waterfront - the first of its kind. a contract worth around EUR 8.2 million and which had long been requested by residents, environmentalists and the Loures municipality. The void left by the removal of the containers has been adapted for WYD; it will host some of the thousands of pilgrims expected at the final events of the Day, which took place from the stage set up on the Lisbon side.

But after World Youth Day, the containers will not be returning. The land will be empty again - this time of the event's specific infrastructure - and will be transformed into a riverside green park, which will have an inter-municipal character.. Since the beginning, there has been the idea of establishing a common leisure area but shared between the municipalities of Lisbon and Loures, with the new cycle bridge over the Trancão River as a link. With Lisbon still in some uncertainty about what to do with the land after the event (remember that the initial idea was to extend Parque Tejo, but the decision to keep the stage and reserve that area for large events may change plans), Loures is sure of what it wants and will move forward with a riverside green park. The plan is for this park, which will be linked not only to the Loures riverside path but also to Lisbon by the new wooden bridge, to be completed and open to the public by the end of next year.

Budgeted at six million euros (3.5 million from the Government and 2.5 from the Loures City Council), the future green park will occupy an area about 35 hectaresThe site, located between the IC2 and the Northern Railway Line, contains both earthen and asphalted plots, a result of the territory's industrial past. The project will include 600 trees, lawns and dry meadows, paved footpaths, a children's playground and dog park, a sports area with paddle tennis, tennis, futsal, skateboarding and cycling, cafeteria and catering facilities and sanitary infrastructures.. The entire park area will be irrigated with "recycled water" of the Beirolas Wastewater Treatment Plant, thus saving an essential and increasingly scarce asset.

It is intended that the park should have areas of shadeguaranteed by the trees mentioned above, but also uncovered areas, giving it some versatility. Ricardo Leão, Mayor of Loures, said at the presentation of the project that he wanted this new park to be a place for people to enjoy. hosting major events such as music festivals, as reported in the newspaper Público. With these possible events in mind, the park will have at least one multipurpose square of about 17,000 square meters and also an amphitheater set into a natural hillside, in addition to the grassy areas already mentioned.

The following are foreseen two overpasses under the railway lineThe park will be linked to the urban fabric of Sacavém/Bobadela and also to the railway station. A cycle-pedestrian link to the walkways of the Loures Riverside Path is also planned (the inauguration initially scheduled for mid-August is now planned for the first week of September). These bridges and links will not be part of the initial contract.

The construction of the park, on the Loures side, will be shared between the municipality and the central administration. Thus, the Government will be responsible for shaping the land, landscaping and infrastructure, for a total of 3.5 million euros, which are part of the World Youth Day budget - the public tender will be launched soon. Once these works are done, it will be up to the Loures City Council to finish the space, executing the 17-hectare plot between the Bobadela station and the mouth of the Trancão river (the Government will only be responsible for the area where the containers were, as it is a territory under its competence through Infraestruturas de Portugal, the public company it administers). According to the Público newspaperThe repair of this area will cost the municipality around 2.5 million euros.

The green riverside park in Loures will integrate with the park to be built by Lisbon in the area where World Youth Day will now be held. a large inter-city park, to be called Papa Francisco Parkas announced on Monday, July 31, by the Prime Minister, António Costa. On the Lisbon side, it is not yet known what will be done, but the municipality of the capital has been showing interest in reusing the World Youth Day land also for major events, reconciling it with a leisure area and enjoyment of the population, with shade and trees. The project on the Lisbon side should be developed by SRU, the municipal works company. As for Loures, the first timings announced opening date for the park is the end of 2024.