The proposal, focused on the recovery of the Clariano river and the creation of the Mamás Belgas floodable park, has been chosen from hundreds of European initiatives. The awards gala will be held on October 30 in Cascais, where the project will compete in the categories of Climate Protection, Public Health, and Aging.
Since their creation in 2017, these awards have gathered more than 2,000 projects from over 30 countries. A citizen jury evaluates the proposals, focusing on innovation and the real impact they generate in society.
“"The decision to completely transform this space was brave but necessary, especially recalling the impact of the DANA episode that affected the area and the subsequent days, when the need for a structural solution became evident."
La Cantereria was a habitually flood-prone area, with increasing frequency in recent years. Although no personal injuries had occurred, significant material damages accumulated. In this context, the municipal government decided that "this could not happen again" and promoted a radical transformation: the purchase of 41 properties, their demolition, and the creation of a floodable park to absorb the rising waters of the Clariano river.
The project was made possible thanks to institutional coordination, with the participation of the Generalitat, the Government of Spain, the Diputación de Valencia, European funds, and the Confederación Hidrográfica. This shared funding model allowed the action to be affordable for the municipality and become a benchmark project.
The initiative has received recognition from the Official College of Architects of the Valencian Community and other national awards, consolidating itself as an example of urban innovation. Its success is the result of combining a good technical team, brave planning, and the political capacity to make complex decisions.
