Anyone who regularly drives to Los Cristianos knows the problem all too well. Finding a free parking space near the centre, the harbour or the beaches is often quite a challenge. Especially during busy periods, at weekends or on market days, traffic can build up in the streets around Playa de Las Vistas, El Camisón and the old town. The municipality of Arona now wants to address this issue and is studying several projects to significantly increase parking capacity in Los Cristianos.
Concerns about the visual impact
According to the Spanish newspaper Diario de Avisos, the municipal authorities are working on a package of possible measures at various locations in the coastal town. The largest and most striking option is located near the harbour. There, a three-storey parking facility with more than 800 spaces is being considered. On paper, this would provide major relief for the parking pressure, but at the same time the plan raises many questions.
Not everyone is enthusiastic about the idea of a large car park building near the harbour. Both local residents and members of the municipal government are concerned about its visual impact. Los Cristianos is already a busy and densely built-up coastal town. According to critics, a large building for cars near the harbour could affect the view and the character of the area. That is why the municipality is asking Puertos del Estado, the Spanish port authority, for more technical information about the project.
Underground solution
Arona itself seems more inclined to look for solutions that are less visible. One of the alternatives is an underground car park on Avenida Habana. This is an important street where many people park their cars every day when visiting Las Vistas, El Camisón or the town centre. An underground solution could create additional spaces without adding a large above-ground building.
A possible intervention is also being studied near the roundabout at the entrance to the harbour. There, part of a green area could disappear to make room for a parking structure. In addition, there is an older plan in the area around the Antonio DomÃnguez stadium and Hospiten, where approximately 500 parking spaces would be provided. However, that file has been dragging on for several years and needs to be administratively corrected again.
Difficult balance
The plans mainly show just how great the mobility pressure in Los Cristianos has become. The coastal town is popular with residents, tourists, day visitors and harbour users. At the same time, the available parking spaces have not kept pace with this growing pressure. The existing underground car park in Los Cristianos, with just over 100 spaces, has long been insufficient.
For visitors, this means that a trip to Los Cristianos will still require some planning in the near future. Those who want to avoid the crowds are best advised to choose quieter hours or consider taking the guagua or a taxi. For Arona, it will be a matter of finding a difficult balance: creating more parking spaces without placing an even heavier burden on the coastal town.
Photo: AI ChatGPT
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