Pola Park in Santa Pola is set for some big changes, including a 25-metre Ferris wheel, new attractions, greener parking areas and more shade around the park.
Santa Pola Town Council has agreed to renew the amusement park’s concession for another 40 years, with the agreement worth €1.2 million.
In return, the company running Pola Park will have to carry out a series of improvements covering the attractions, buildings, accessibility, energy efficiency, landscaping and parking.
The plans aim to modernise the long-running attraction and broaden its appeal to visitors of different ages.
A 25-metre Ferris wheel will become the main attraction
One of the biggest changes will be the addition of a 25-metre Ferris wheel.
The plans envisage installing the wheel alongside a lake, creating a new focal point for the park.
Pola Park will also reorganise its food and drink outlets around a central plaza with views towards the Ferris wheel.
The project covers almost 20,000 square metres of attraction areas and includes replacing or adding rides.
Some of the existing children’s attractions could make way for more extreme rides, spinning attractions and skill-based activities, helping the park appeal to older children, teenagers and adults as well as younger families.
More shade and green areas
The makeover isn’t limited to the rides.
Plans include two different types of green space, including a landscaped area around the outside of the park.
This will create a transition between the built-up area of Santa Pola and the protected environment around the Salinas de Santa Pola.
The landscaping will use native plants suited to the local environment, while trees will provide additional shade around walking routes and parking areas.
Inside Pola Park, more trees and planting will create shaded areas for sitting, relaxing and playing.
Adapted pedestrian routes will connect the different areas, while efficient irrigation and permeable surfaces will help manage water and reduce the risk of flooding.
That extra shade should be particularly welcome during the hottest weeks of summer.
Parking will also get an overhaul
The current parking area will undergo a substantial redesign, with more than 22,000 square metres divided into three separate areas.
The plans provide 10,224 square metres of parking specifically for Pola Park customers.
There will also be a 5,487-square-metre paid public car park and a 6,523-square-metre free public parking area.
Instead of filling the centre of the plots with cars, parking spaces will sit mainly around the edges. This will leave more central space available for gardens, pedestrian routes and rest areas.
Trees will also provide shade for some of the parking and walking areas.
Better accessibility and lighting
The refurbishment will include improvements to accessibility throughout the park.
Pola Park will also need to modernise its protection, ventilation and air-conditioning systems and introduce measures to improve energy efficiency.
New LED lighting will reduce energy consumption while improving visibility and safety around both the amusement park and its parking areas after dark.
Before installing the new attractions, the company will also need to carry out geotechnical studies to ensure the ground and foundations can support them.
A 40-year agreement
Santa Pola Town Council owns the land occupied by Pola Park and wants the improvements to help the attraction reach a wider audience and keep up with changes in the leisure industry.
The renewed concession will run for 40 years.
The operator will pay €30,000 a year, with half corresponding to the municipal concession fee and the other half contributing towards financing the new green area.
The changes will take place over time, so visitors shouldn’t expect the entire new-look Pola Park to appear at once. The 25-metre Ferris wheel, for example, forms part of the medium-term plans.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- What: Major refurbishment and modernisation of Pola Park
- Where: Santa Pola
- Concession: Renewed for 40 years
- Main new attraction: 25-metre Ferris wheel with an adjacent lake
- Other rides: Plans include new and replacement attractions aimed at a wider range of ages
- Food and drink: Outlets will centre around a new plaza overlooking the Ferris wheel
- Green areas: More native planting, trees, shaded areas and pedestrian routes
- Parking: More than 22,000 square metres split between park-only, paid public and free public parking
- Accessibility: Improvements form part of the refurbishment
- Lighting: New low-consumption LED lighting
- Annual payment: €30,000
- Timing: The improvements will take place in stages, with the Ferris wheel planned for the medium term
