Olhão is committing €1.5 million to revitalise its western area, starting with two projects to develop new recreational zones.
The municipality is investing €1.5 million in two ongoing contract projects that will enhance the banks of the Ria Formosa with a new leisure area and create an urban park. The intervention is expected to be concluded within 12 months, that is, by July 2025.
Set against the stunning salt flats, the western region of Olhão boasts a diverse array of migratory bird species that change with the seasons, along with the Algarve’s distinctive lighting and breathtaking sunsets, making it an upcoming hotspot for nature enthusiasts.
António Miguel Pina, the mayor of Olhão, states that this marks the final part of a comprehensive initiative aimed at revitalising various riverfront areas in the city, which consists of three stages, with two already in progress.
The opening phase, called Tapadas, is associated with a concept termed urban beaches. “Unfortunately, we are unable to execute the initial vision because the ICNF has not granted us the authority to change those wetland regions into spaces for sandy leisure. Nonetheless, the area will become a far more inviting, tidy, and enjoyable environment, thanks to the renovation of a former fishery”.
He reveals that the second phase “has also started and is what we call the Poente de Olhão Urban Park, which will begin next to Tapadas. “This region is intended to function as a garden, featuring trees, and will also act as an ecological shield against increasing temperatures in the peri-urban perimeter. “
In light of the Algarve’s water scarcity issues, the mayor clarifies that “the initiative, along with the parks in the riverfront zone, relies on the supply of recycled water from Águas do Algarve.
Furthermore, the initiative for the third stage is currently underway, focusing on the redevelopment of Avenida 5 de Outubro, stretching from the Cavalo-Marinho roundabout to the EN125, which was an alternative route established in the 1980s. “In the near future, it will be an avenue with two lanes, cycle paths and a central area”, predicts Antonio Miguel Pina.
For now, the two urban interventions begin only with municipal resources. According to the mayor, the Tapadas project is budgeted at €560,000, and the adjacent urban park is estimated at around €960,000.
As the old wastewater treatment plant to the west is being shut down, Tapadas is set to become a prominent feature and gateway to the riverside scenery of Olhão. This area will not only include a network of walking paths but will also offer a cycling route to Faro once the adjacent municipality advances with its plans.
When inquired about the local government’s workshops, the socialist mayor anticipates their closure in the near future, particularly with the new kennel set to open at the start of next year. Ambiolhão’s cleaning services will be transferred to new facilities on land acquired by the municipality close to the industrial area of Marim, where the fire station will also be located in the future.
Ricardo Calé, councillor responsible for Public Works, says, “When we walk along the Ria Formosa and look at Olhão, we like what we see. In the recent past, when investors started looking at Olhão, we already had mechanisms to protect our territory. Individuals aiming to create cannot erect massive walls, thereby preserving our cubist design”.
“It’s quite fascinating to observe that City Councils, despite their duty to oversee the area, require input from various authorities with jurisdiction over the region when aiming to enhance the quality of life for residents and visitors alike,” he concludes.
This public space will allow birdwatching and host eco-events, environmental education, and nature tourism initiatives by the Ria Formosa.
Text: Bruno Filipe Fires
