Manzanares Park facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Manzanares Park |
|
|---|---|
A view of the Umbraculo
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). |
Manzanares Park (in Spanish: Parque del Manzanares) is a huge park located in the south of Madrid, Spain. It covers about 650 hectares (that's like 1,600 football fields!). The park follows the Manzanares River for 15 kilometers, stretching from the Casa de Campo area all the way to the town of Getafe.
The first part of this amazing park officially opened on April 29, 2003. Other parts of the park are still being built or planned for the future.
What Can You Find in Manzanares Park?
The finished parts of Manzanares Park offer many cool spots for visitors. Here are some of the most important areas:
- The Green Square (Plaza Verde): This is a special outdoor theater made of wood. It's a great place for events or just to relax.
- The Alley of Senses (Paseo de los Sentidos): This path runs along the river. It's planted with many different types of trees. You can see palm trees, oak trees, cork trees, and olive trees here.
- The Umbráculo: This is a unique structure designed to provide shade. It's a nice spot to cool down on a sunny day.
- The Watchtower (Atalaya): This is a pyramid-shaped building. On top, there's a 13-meter (about 43-foot) tall sculpture. It was made by Manolo Valdés and shows the head of a woman looking out over the city.
- The Pérgola: This is another shaded walkway, often covered with climbing plants. It offers a pleasant stroll.
- The Sports Area: If you love sports, this area is for you! It has several fields for football, basketball, and handball.
- The Loop: This is a wide path, about 6 meters (20 feet) across, that goes around the park. It's perfect for jogging, biking, or just walking.
- The Belvedere Park: This section offers great views, often from a raised area.
Why Was Manzanares Park Created?
The first part of the "Linear Park on the River Manzanares" project was finished in 2003. It was designed by a famous architecture firm called Ricardo Bofill Taller de Arquitectura.
The park's location in the south of Madrid is very important. Madrid is a growing city, and it needs green spaces. Manzanares Park helps to break up the city buildings. It also gives people a chance to connect with nature.
The main goal of this project was to turn an industrial area into a beautiful park. This area used to have city sanitation and electricity facilities. The park now offers a major green space for the city. It also provides places for people to enjoy fun activities and sports.
The park is designed to be a natural space without many buildings. It's perfect for outdoor sports like jogging and biking. There are also plans for water activities on a large rowing canal. The park can also host outdoor cultural events. The project even planned to cover up some of the less attractive parts, like sewer exits and power plants. This helps to make the park look and smell better for everyone.
See also
In Spanish: Parque Lineal del Manzanares para niños
