The new promenade in La Pineda, Vila-seca, designed to be resilient against climate change and sea-level rise, now faces the challenge of summer heat. The main complaint from walkers this first summer has been the lack of shade, as the planted vegetation has not yet grown sufficiently.
The mayor of Vila-seca, Pere Segura, explained that the promenade "is not entirely finished" and that Costas (the coastal authority) will cede it to the Town Council next year, at which point "some remaining touches will be completed." Segura admitted that "we cannot wait for the trees to grow" to provide protection against high temperatures, although he did not detail the system to be used for generating this shade.
The transformation of the coastline, with an investment of 8.5 million euros, was carried out by the Ministry for Ecological Transition following a municipal project. Planters with species such as Australian pine and stone pine have been created, which will require approximately one year to reach their full lushness.
Despite the lack of shade, the promenade is already intensively used, especially the children's play areas. However, residents and visitors lament the "suffocating" heat at certain times. For reference, this July the slide in the nearby lighthouse park reached 54 degrees Celsius.
The promenade is state-owned, as the Town Council ceded the land to the Ministry. It is anticipated that the council will obtain management through an administrative concession via the Generalitat (Catalan Government), which will allow it to carry out actions compatible with Costas' regulations.
Another pending issue is the configuration of a dune system to protect the beach, which has gained width and will have a more permeable relationship with the promenade. The mayor anticipates the intention to link it with the old part of the promenade and the Cal·lípolis Experiential Centre, with the aim of having the dune system ready by the end of the year on Racó beach.
