The contract, the largest in the history of the Elche City Council, will involve an investment of 18.5 million euros for the first three years and could reach 30.34 million if the two foreseen extensions are executed. STV Gestión already manages similar contracts in Alicante and San Vicente del Raspeig.
The mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz, highlighted it as "a very important step to continue transforming the city" and "an unprecedented commitment to sustainability and quality of life." STV Gestión S.L.'s offer was the best valued among the five participating companies.
The new contract will cover the management and maintenance of 120 hectares of parks, gardens, roundabouts, and other green spaces throughout the municipal area, including newly established areas. Staff will be increased from approximately 40-50 people to nearly 140 professionals to enhance response capacity and maintenance efficiency.
The Deputy Mayor for Public Services, Claudio Guilabert, emphasized the improvement in the care of children's play areas, with enhanced maintenance, cleaning, and safety to ensure spaces are "cared for, safe, and in perfect condition" for families.
The service management will be modernized with complete digitalization, including a georeferenced inventory of green spaces and a catalog of plant species. Software connected to the City Council will be implemented for real-time work monitoring.
The contract also includes measures to optimize water consumption through preventive maintenance of the irrigation network and the introduction of new, specialized machinery, including electric and hybrid vehicles.
The service provision will commence at the end of summer with an intensive three-month "shock plan" to restore parks and gardens, involving extraordinary cleaning, pruning, and repair work.
