The area surrounding El Arcángel stadium and the El Arenal fairgrounds in Córdoba is facing a period of change with a two-pronged approach: the creation of new pedestrian access points and the planting of 174 trees to increase shadeThis is a project that combines urban planning and green spaces with the idea that match days and fair days will be, literally, more bearable for those who move around the area.
These interventions come after years of complaints about the puddles, mud, and lack of trees in the area surrounding the stadium and the fairgrounds. The City Council intends that, once completed, the space will be more comfortable for Córdoba CF fans and visitors to the Feria de Nuestra Señora de la Salud (Our Lady of Health Fair), eliminating muddy areas and offering defined routes and larger shaded areas.
A comprehensive project for the area around El Arcángel and El Arenal
As detailed by the delegate for Urban Planning and president of the Municipal Urban Planning Management (GMU), Miguel Ángel TorricoThe works have been planned as a joint project encompassing the stadium and the fairgrounds. It's not just about opening new paths, but about to complete a series of improvements that have already been undertaken In recent years, they have been designed to make the area more functional and habitable.
On one hand, action is being taken on the most frequently used access points by fans, neighbors and visitors on event daysOn the other hand, the plan includes increasing the number of trees on strategic streets within the Arenal area. The city's aim is to transform the area from a harsh and unwelcoming space during hot or rainy days into a more orderly and tree-lined environment year-round.
The project has a budget around 162.000 euros, funded through the GMU, and with a approximate execution time of three monthsIf the planned schedule is maintained, the work should be completed around March, coinciding with the end of winter and the beginning of spring, dates when the influx to the stadium and the fairgrounds intensifies again.
The current actions are in addition to another previous work in which the following had already been addressed: stormwater runoff of the grounds, in order to reduce the formation of large puddles and impassable areas. Now, with the paved paths and the new trees, the goal is to complete the loop and offer a more stable environment, both on rainy days and on hot days.
The City Council emphasizes that all these improvements are seen as progress in terms of quality of life for attendees at the different events which are held in El Arcángel and El Arenal, from football matches to fairs and other large-scale activities.
New cement roads: seven more comfortable and passable access points
One of the key elements of the project is the execution of seven cement roads These roads will connect the various points of the Arenal area with the main entrances to El Arcángel stadium. The machinery is already operating in the area and, barring unforeseen circumstances, the project should be completed within the established three-month timeframe.
These new pedestrian routes seek to solve a chronic problem: every rainfall turned the terrain into a muddy surface full of puddlesThis made it difficult for fans and visitors to get to the stadium or move around the fairgrounds. The new, paved walkways will provide a firm surface and eliminate the classic scenario of mud-caked boots and trousers.
In the area near North end of the stadium Three of these entrances have been planned, which will channel the arrival of the public through that side of the venue. Simultaneously, in the area of Opinion Additional pathways will be built connecting to the busiest areas, facilitating the flow of people both on match days and at other events.
Different municipal explanations indicate that the routes have been designed to be compatible with the usual fair use of El ArenalIn other words, the paths must not interfere with the assembly of booths, attractions or infrastructure of the Feria de Nuestra Señora de la Salud, but will be integrated into the whole of the site in a functional way.
The City Council insists that the priority is for the access routes, in addition to being more convenient, to provide a tangible improvement in the viewer experience who come to El Arcángel on match days, avoiding situations that used to happen every winter when the pitch turned into a mud pit.
Planting of 174 trees in El Arenal: more shade and a friendlier environment
The other major part of the project is the Planting of 174 trees at the Arenal fairgroundsThis revegetation project aims to transform the image and thermal comfort of the area surrounding the stadium and fairgrounds in the medium and long term. The plantings will primarily focus on the streets. Guadalquivir y The Colt, two of the fundamental axes of the site.
Currently, Guadalquivir Street only has a row of plane trees on one sideThe project includes completing the other side of the road, creating a second row of trees that, over the years, will allow for a corridor that is more protected from the sun and more balanced from a landscape point of view.
In the case of El Potro street, where a landscaping project was carried out a few years ago, a similar planting on the margin that does not yet have treesThe aim is to reinforce the continuity of the vegetation and offer routes with denser shade along the main thoroughfares for visitors and fairgoers.
In addition, in the area where the fairground attractions are traditionally set up, work will be carried out on two very busy squares or open spaces: the one of the childish games and the fountain. Both will be surrounded by trees to expand the shaded areas and improve the experience for families, children and the general public on hot days.
The planting of these 174 trees will not have an immediate effect on the landscape, but the City Council emphasizes that, as they grow, will significantly increase the available shade and will help to mitigate the feeling of heat in an esplanade that, until now, was very exposed to direct sunlight for much of the year.
Preliminary works and complementary actions in the surrounding area
The current intervention did not arise from nothing. In recent years, work had already been carried out aimed at improve drainage and soil behavior in the face of the rain, correcting the runoff of rainwater that generated large puddled areas in the Arenal grounds and in the accesses to the stadium.
Thanks to these preliminary works, the occurrence of large puddlesAlthough problems with mud and uneven surfaces persisted in certain areas, these are now being addressed with the paved paths. This new project is therefore conceived as a logical complement that completes the series of improvements.
In parallel, the City Council has other projects on the table that directly affect the same area, such as undergrounding of the power line which crosses the Arenal grounds. This project, which has its own separate process, will be addressed in a later phase, once deadlines and final technical details have been established.
The Urban Planning Department insists that, although each intervention has its own file, the underlying idea is to move towards a a more orderly, safe and pleasant environment for those who attend the stadium, the fair, or other large events. The various works are thus articulated as pieces of the same transformative process.
In short, the municipal strategy involves transforming the area surrounding El Arcángel and El Arenal from a mere large open space used only occasionally into a consolidated urban center. urban area more integrated into the city, with improved accessibility, drainage and environmental comfort.
Impact on fans, fairground workers and neighbors
The creation of paved paths and the planting of the 174 trees also have a social dimension: the area is expected to benefit from Comfort and safety for those who use it most frequentlyCórdoba CF fans, fairground workers, families and visitors in general will be able to move around in a more predictable environment, without so many surprises due to the state of the ground or the lack of shade.
For fans who attend the stadium on rainy days, the main improvement will most likely be the possibility of access the stands without going through mud or puddlesThe routes have been designed to connect with the most frequently used access points, making the journeys more direct and convenient.
In the case of the fair, the reinforcement of the tree canopy and the increase in shade will have a special impact on the long-stay areassuch as children's play areas or squares next to fountains and meeting points. On hot days, having mature trees It can make the difference between a manageable visit and a much more difficult one.
The residents of Córdoba who use the venue at other times of the year will also benefit, since the Arenal, beyond the fair, acts as an open space for diverse activities, from from one-off events to large gatheringsHaving better access and denser green areas fits with the usual demands for quality public spaces.
The sum of these actions ultimately aims to transform the area from a mere venue for large events into a a more welcoming and versatile space, capable of offering better usage conditions on a daily basis and not just at specific times of the calendar.
With the start of the works and the planned planting of the 174 trees, the area around El Arcángel and El Arenal enters a phase of change that, if it adheres to the established deadlines and objectives, will leave a beautiful enclosure. more passable, better protected from rain and sun, and with a reinforced green presence that aims to improve the experience of thousands of people who, every year, pass through this key point of the city of Cordoba.
