Más Madrid Alcobendas has submitted a motion for the upcoming municipal Plenary to renaturalise parks and play areas by replacing rubber pavements and grass with vegetation and trees.
The political party Más Madrid Alcobendas has registered a motion for the next municipal Plenary aimed at transforming parks and children's play areas into climate refuges. The initiative seeks to adapt public spaces to increasingly frequent heatwaves, reduce water consumption, and improve the safety of children.
The party's councillor, Mariano Cañas, explained that the current design of parks creates “heat islands” due to excessive cement and the use of artificial pavements, which reach very high temperatures under the sun. “We need urban planning that prioritises health and sustainability,” he stated.
Replacement of rubber with natural surfaces
The motion outlines a series of progressive changes in the urban planning of the city. The main point is the gradual removal of rubber pavements in children's play areas and the reduction of cement, replacing them with natural solutions such as compacted earth or treated wood.
Additionally, it proposes replacing traditional grass, which requires high water consumption, with Mediterranean-type vegetation and planting large trees that provide natural shade. In areas where planting is not possible, they suggest installing photovoltaic covers to protect from the sun.
Safety audit for play areas
The motion also demands that the City Council carry out an urgent review of children's play areas in Alcobendas to detect and repair damaged surfaces that may pose a danger to children while their definitive replacement is processed. “We cannot wait for an accident to happen,” Cañas warned.
Más Madrid argues that this proposal opens a necessary debate about the city model, prioritising public health, child safety, and water resource savings. According to municipal data, maintaining green areas consumes a significant part of the parks and gardens budget.
The initiative comes in the context of increasing temperatures in the Community of Madrid, where heatwaves have become more intense and frequent in recent years. Residents of Alcobendas have expressed concern about the state of some play areas, especially during the summer months.
The spokesperson for Más Madrid in the City Council has reminded that other municipalities in the region, such as Rivas-Vaciamadrid or Tres Cantos, have already initiated similar renaturalisation processes. “Alcobendas cannot fall behind,” he insisted.
The motion will be debated in the next municipal Plenary, where the PP government team will have to express its position. If approved, a pilot plan would be initiated in one or two parks in the municipality to assess the results before extending it to the rest.
For the residents of Alcobendas, this proposal represents a tangible change in their daily lives: cooler, safer parks with less water consumption. Mariano Cañas concluded that “it is time for our public spaces to rise to the challenge of climate change.”
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