When will the Great Park of Mijas open?

The Great Park of Mijas, the green and recreational space that is set to become the major green lung of the Costa del Sol, is nearing the final stretch of its construction. The foundation stone for this new space was laid in the summer of 2023, and it was expected to be completed and open to the public by May 2025.

This was announced by the Councilor for Works, Juan José Torres Trella, during a visit to the site last January when the construction was already 90 percent complete. Currently, the City Council neither confirms nor denies this deadline and states that work on the ground continues, but they have not clarified the definitive opening date.

Once operational, the Great Park of Mijas will offer residents and visitors a green area consisting of 2,900 trees and shrubs spread over 27 hectares of land that make up the space. Due to drought, the types of plants initially intended to be planted have been reconsidered, so that the species initially planned would have used 2,350 cubic meters of water per month, but with the change of species, water consumption has been reduced to about 350 cubic meters, representing a 300 percent decrease in water use.

There have also been changes to the initial project regarding access to the park. Specifically, this large green area extends in length from the cemetery grounds to the Cerros del Águila development and in width to the vicinity of Venta La Morena, an area known as 'El Ahogadero', which is only a kilometer and a half from the center.

The initial project included access via two bridges from the cemetery and from Venta La Morena, but these bridges will not be built until a later phase. Therefore, existing roads have been adapted to accommodate the expected traffic of people for facilities of this size, and a parking lot with about a thousand spaces has been created near the cemetery entrance.

Expenses and Revenues

Regarding the expenses and revenues of the park once it is operational, considering that it has already required an investment of 27.5 million euros, it is known that maintenance, including gardening, security, and similar tasks, will cost about three million euros per year.

These expenses will be offset by income from concessions, as it is planned to award certain services within the park, such as boat rentals for the navigable lake, zip lines, bicycle operations, a possible tourist train, or events organized in the amphitheater.

It is important to remember that this park will feature several attractive spaces, including an artificial lake with a pavilion, an amphitheater capable of accommodating 1,900 standing and 1,500 seated people, and a 'splashpark', or water play area. There will also be more standard facilities, such as a dog park, children's areas, and sports courts, including a 'skatepark'.