In March 2023, the district of Hortaleza unveiled a brand-new green space, located between María de la Mercedes de Borbón and Avenida de las Fuerzas Armadas, providing a transition between the residential area of the district and the Felipe IV country park, one of the largest parks in the city. With an area of 78 hectares, it has several footpaths, a bike lane, viewpoint, children's play areas and restaurants.
The new park, which is based on the Sol y Sombra project by designer Joao Ferreira, entailed the planting of 5,500 trees and 170,000 bushes. The landscaped area features native species and is divided into three sections: the meadow, the riverbank and the agricultural area, managed in accordance with criteria of efficiency and environmental sustainability.
In addition, the natural hydrology of this space has been restored in the form of two streams, Valdefuentes and Valdehigueras, which collect run-off and rainwater and channel it into the lake located at the lowest point of the area, forming an incredibly biodiverse habitat.
Thanks to its topography, park visitors can enjoy multiple accessible routes that allow them to get over steep slopes, giving the feeling of being in the middle of the countryside. In total, there are ten kilometres of paths and walkways, and three kilometres of bike lanes, as well as several viewpoints with exceptional views of Madrid. Children’s play areas, restaurants and cafes, educational buildings, and a space for urban allotments round out the facilities here.
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