The local council in Benidorm has officially reopened the park and ride car park on Avenida de Beniarda today, Wednesday, 1st July. The reopening follows extensive refurbishment works carried out over the last eight months, representing a total investment of nearly 1.6 million euro.
The facility commenced operations this morning under a brand new configuration, providing capacity for more than 360 vehicles. The upgraded car park features a wide range of new amenities, including freshly paved surfaces, sustainable drainage paving across the parking platforms, modern lighting, an electrical grid, new trees, and green spaces. It has also been equipped with street furniture, an access control system, vehicle counting technology, signage, and safety barriers. Dedicated parking spaces have been set aside for families as well as individuals with reduced mobility.
The initiative, officially titled ‘Sustainable urban drainage system for the implementation of the park-and-ride car park on the municipal plot of El Moralet’, delivers a major improvement over the previous facility on Avenida de Beniarda, which consisted of an unpaved dirt track lacking formal layout or designated spaces. The scheme is integrated into the destination’s Sustainable Tourism Plan, known as ‘Benidorm Vision 360’, and represents its 13th specific action.
Funding for the project was provided entirely by European Next Generation EU funds, which are linked to the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan within the wider Sustainable Tourism Destination scheme. The exact budget allocated for the works reached 1,548,717.93 euro. This expenditure has also funded a main drainage network across the car park to channel rainwater that cannot be naturally absorbed by the ground, alongside the pre-installation of necessary infrastructure to facilitate the future addition of electric vehicle charging points.
Prior to the official opening, representatives from Benidorm council conducted a site visit on Tuesday to inspect the completed works before vehicles were permitted entry. The delegation was led by the Mayor, Toni Perez, alongside the councillor for mobility, Francis Munoz, and the councillor for European funds, Aida Garcia Mayor. They were accompanied by other members of the local corporation, municipal technicians, local residents, and representatives from the Neighbourhood Council.
The Mayor expressed the council’s satisfaction with the completion of a project that has enhanced one of the primary entrances to the town. He emphasised that the upgrade will be a significant improvement for residents in the Foietes and Colonia Madrid neighbourhoods by providing a spacious facility in excellent condition.
Perez noted that the new space will serve as a valuable everyday amenity for the local neighbourhood and its residents, while also accommodating commuters who travel to Benidorm from surrounding municipalities for work.
He highlighted that the project followed a clear chronological order, coming after the construction of the Avenida de Beniarda underpass. Because the work was fully financed through the Sustainable Tourism Plan, it has been completed at zero cost to the municipal coffers of Benidorm.
The Mayor also addressed the adjacent area closest to El Moralet Park, which was temporarily utilised as an alternative car park during the construction period. He explained that a similar project cannot be executed on that specific plot due to its official classification as forest land.
However, he confirmed that it will continue to be used as an additional parking area. Combined with the newly refurbished facility, this entrance to Benidorm will offer close to one thousand free parking spaces. This arrangement is intended to reduce vehicle traffic in the urban centre and ease access for residents, visitors, and tourists.
The councillor for mobility, Francis Munoz, stated that the administration is continuing its investment in expanding free public parking options. He highlighted that the project secured European funding to transform a space that sees high demand from locals and visitors alike.
Munoz concluded by noting that the entire layout is rooted in sustainability criteria, aligning with the broader sustainable mobility strategies that Benidorm has been implementing since 2015.
