The Zaragoza neighborhood of San José will have a cooler, more usable square next to the old brewery. Promoted by the Zaragoza Forest program and with private collaboration, the Acequia del Ontonar square will become a a new green square in San José with more shade, vegetation and meeting areas.
During the presentation, Mayor Natalia Chueca explained that the project brings nature to the city's interior and responds to residents' demands for shade and comfort. The announcement coincided with the Fiestas del Pilar (Pilar Festival), and according to the plan, the work will be undertaken this winter so that the space can be opened to the public in early 2026.
Location and objectives of the project
The area of ​​action is located in the Acequia del Ontonar square, just a few meters from the old Ambar factory in the San José district. The objective is revitalize an existing square incorporating biodiversity, rest and play areas, and improving the everyday pedestrian experience.
Design, plantings and children's areas
The intervention provides for the planting new trees of several species and dozens of aromatic and ornamental shrubs to provide shade and color. Among the planned specimens are a lithon tree, a maple tree, an ash tree, a melia tree, a sweetgum tree and a mulberry tree, as well as masses of celindos, barberries, orange blossoms or myrtles.
Three play areas will be installed with unique elements: a large pendulum swing, a climbing area with four cradles and rope structures, and a balance course with wooden sleepers. These resources aim to offer inclusive and varied play maintaining resistant materials and reasonable maintenance.
The street furniture will be updated with benches and rest areas. This part of the project emphasizes create resting places and meeting, as well as improving the accessibility and continuity of pedestrian routes in the surrounding area.
Urban art and neighborhood memory
The perimeter of the plaza will incorporate an urban art intervention coordinated with the Department of Culture and the Asalto Festival. The project aims to give visual coherence to the whole and engage in dialogue with the existing work of artist Marta Peña, created in homage to the neighborhood's industrial tradition.
Calendar, budget and financing
The estimated budget is around 50.000 euros. A portion will be contributed by La Zaragozana as a partner company in the urban naturalization program. The roadmap contemplates carrying out the works during the colder months and open the plaza in early 2026, subject to planting and supply times.
The Zaragoza Forest will begin its fifth season in November, with more than 205.000 trees and shrubs planted on approximately 230 hectares since its inception. For this campaign, the following are expected: act on up to 50 additional hectares at locations to be detailed soon.
Institutions and agents involved
The announcement was attended by Mayor Natalia Chueca; the Minister of Environment and Mobility, Tatiana Gaudes; the Minister of Culture, Education and Tourism, Sara Fernández; the director of ECODES, Juan Ortiz; and Enrique Torguet, director of communications, institutional relations and ESG at Grupo Agora.
Torguet emphasized that the plantation strengthens the company's ties with its surroundings after more than a century of activity in the area. Beyond symbolism, the collaboration is aimed at increase trees and shade in a space frequented by the neighborhood.
The company, awarded the Gold Medal of the City in 2018 and with the title of Ambassador of Zaragoza since 2009, participates as a collaborating entity in this urban project, without altering the public character of the space.
Context and previous collaborations
This urban intervention joins others promoted by the City Council and the Zaragoza Forest program, such as the Miyawaki-type forest in the La Paz neighborhood or projects in districts like Miralbueno. At the peri-urban level, There were already plantations in Vedado de Peñaflor with the participation of the same company.
As part of the Bosques Ambar initiative, the group has promoted four plantations in AÃnsa, Peñaflor, Vicién, and Perales del Alfambra, totaling over 7.500 trees. The Ambar Hibervida line now incorporates the urban focus for align actions with the SDGs in collaboration with the local administration.
This project aims to add more shade, play areas, and vegetation to a key spot in San José, combining tree planting, furniture, and urban art within a limited budget and a clear timeline; If the deadlines are met, the renovated plaza will be operational by early 2026..
