Los Boliches’ Plaza del Carmen is set for a major makeover: more accessible, more shade and no central fountain

Plaza del Carmen in Los Boliches is preparing for one of its biggest transformations in recent years. Fuengirola Town Hall has launched a project to renovate this landmark square, located beside the Nuestra Señora del Carmen y Santa Fe church and closely linked to the identity of the neighbourhood.

The plans will create a more open, accessible and greener square, while also renewing paving, lighting and underground infrastructure. One of the most visible changes will be the removal of the current ornamental fountain, although the sculpture dedicated to the fishermen of Los Boliches will be preserved and moved to another location.

The tender budget stands at €363,345.04 including taxes, considerably below the initial estimate of around €1 million discussed when the project was presented to residents in 2024.

A more accessible square on a more continuous level

Improving accessibility is one of the main objectives of the redevelopment.

The new layout aims to integrate the square more effectively with the surrounding streets and create a more continuous surface, reducing changes in level and obstacles that currently make movement more difficult.

The changes should make the area easier to use for older people, wheelchair users, families with pushchairs and pedestrians in general.

The intervention covers approximately 550 square metres and will also affect nearby roads, including Calle Iglesia, Calle Antonia de la Rosa and part of Avenida de Los Boliches.

If technically possible, the level of Calle Iglesia will also be raised to bring it closer to the height of the square.

The fountain will disappear to create more open space

The most noticeable change will be the removal of the ornamental fountain currently occupying the centre of the square.

Removing it will free up more usable space and create a more open layout for everyday pedestrian movement and occasional activities.

The sculpture paying tribute to the fishermen of Los Boliches, however, will not be lost. The project includes removing and relocating it to another site.

The aim is to preserve an element linked to the neighbourhood’s maritime heritage without retaining the fountain in its current form.

More trees and shade

Increasing comfort during the hottest months is another key part of the project.

The existing trees will be retained, while additional trees and plants will be introduced to increase the amount of greenery and shade.

A new irrigation network will also be installed.

Providing more shaded areas was already one of the priorities included in the proposal presented to residents in 2024.

In a town such as Fuengirola, where summer temperatures can make exposed public spaces difficult to use during the day, shade is expected to play an important role in the redesigned square.

New paving, lighting and underground infrastructure

The redevelopment goes beyond the appearance of the square.

Some of the existing infrastructure is considered outdated, including overhead electrical cables currently used to provide power to structures in the area.

The project will allow services to be modernised and placed underground, while the water supply and public lighting systems will also be renewed.

Different types of paving will be used depending on the location, including concrete, terrazzo at pedestrian crossings and prefabricated paving around some of the planted areas.

The objective is to combine accessibility and durability with a more modern appearance.

The square will be prepared for small events

The new design will also take into account Plaza del Carmen’s role as a social and cultural meeting point.

The square hosts different neighbourhood and family activities throughout the year, particularly during celebrations linked to the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of Los Boliches.

The new lighting infrastructure will therefore be designed so the square can host small-scale events.

Creating a larger open central area should also make the space more flexible for these activities.

A project previously put to local residents

The redevelopment has another notable feature: residents were consulted before the project moved forward.

In July 2024, Fuengirola Town Hall opened a public consultation to allow registered residents to give their opinion on the planned transformation.

Before that vote, the proposal had been discussed by the Los Boliches Commission, which includes representatives from the neighbourhood’s economic, social, sporting and cultural sectors.

The central ideas of that original proposal — better accessibility, more space, additional shade and improved integration with the surrounding streets — remain part of the project now moving through the contracting process.

Calle Sevilla is also set for a major renovation

Plaza del Carmen will not be the only significant redevelopment in this part of Fuengirola.

The Town Hall is also moving forward with the complete renovation of Calle Sevilla, a road more than 300 metres long where residents had been calling for improvements.

The works will include replacing the water supply pipes serving homes and businesses, as well as renewing the street at surface level.

The project has been designed to retain the existing parking spaces, an important consideration for local residents.

The redevelopment is being supported by funding from Málaga Provincial Council and represents an investment of around €950,000.

105 days to transform Plaza del Carmen

Once the contract is awarded and the necessary procedures are completed, the renovation of the square will have an execution period of 105 calendar days, or around three and a half months.

When finished, Plaza del Carmen will look significantly different: the central fountain will be gone, there will be more open space, additional greenery, renewed infrastructure and improved accessibility.

The main challenge will be to modernise one of Los Boliches’ best-known public spaces while maintaining its role as an important meeting point and preserving its close connection with the neighbourhood’s identity.

The original proposal, accessibility criteria and public consultation process can be found in the official information published by Fuengirola Town Hall on the redevelopment of Plaza del Carmen in Los Boliches.