The creation of this new green area by the sea was chosen by a jury that emphasized its foundation in sustainable urbanism, promoting resilient and intergenerational green environments. This transformation has turned the area around the headquarters of the Port Authority of Tarragona (APT) into a low-emission zone prioritizing pedestrians and cyclists.
The award jury, whose verdict was announced on the evening of Tuesday, November 10, highlighted that projects like the Port Park address the evolving reality of ports, which must meet citizen needs while maintaining their essential infrastructure functions. The Port Park competed against projects from the ports of Cork, Dublin, and Reykjavík.
The president of Port Tarragona, Santiago J. Castellà, stated that the Port Park is a "deeply civic" space, designed for people of all ages to enjoy health, sports, and intergenerational connections. He emphasized that the project champions a port model focused on sustainable urbanism, biodiversity protection, and openness to the territory.
Through the park's creation, the APT has advanced a new paradigm of sustainable urbanism, establishing a climate refuge with 11,500 m² of green space, a 65% increase from the initial 7,000 m². Approximately 200 trees and over 14,500 native Mediterranean plants have been planted, including a butterfly garden. The area incorporates Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to mitigate flood risk and enhance urban biodiversity.
The park's intergenerational design, based on the 8-80 City concept, features a children's play area, rest zones, walking paths, and a calisthenics circuit. Furthermore, the park's opening has improved the connectivity of the city's maritime facade, serving as a link between El Serrallo, Moll de Costa, and the Miracle promenade, with a new grand staircase on the East breakwater and the Espai Mediterrània plaza.
