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Valencia plans 2 new flood parks to avoid another DANA disaster
More than 1,500 hectares of green spaces will absorb a huge amount of water during heavy rains
Valencia is implementing an ambitious flood prevention strategy by creating two large floodable parks along the Turia River and Barranco del Poyo, transforming more than 1,500 hectares into a natural defence system against future flooding disasters.
The October 29 DANA catastrophe, which claimed 227 lives, is still very fresh in the region’s memory, and it’s hoped that these parks could mitigate future extreme flooding.
"We're going to create two urban parks on the banks of the Turia River and the Poyo Ravine," announced President Carlos Mazón during a visit to the Albufera Natural Park on Friday July 4.
The project's scope is substantial. The Turia River park will extend 10.5 kilometres, creating a green corridor linking the existing Jardín del Turia to the Albufera Natural Park. The Poyo Ravine development will comprise two sections measuring 18.5 and 5.5 kilometres, respectively, distributed between Pla de Quart and the Albufera.
These dual-purpose spaces will function as recreational areas during dry weather conditions, but transform into water retention zones during heavy rainfall, serving as crucial buffer systems to protect nearby urban areas from flooding.
The concept was inspired by Albufera's role during October's floods, when the natural park absorbed vast quantities of water that would otherwise have caused even greater devastation to surrounding communities.
And the Valencian Community has also learned lessons from previous disasters. Following the catastrophic Tous dam failure in 1982, which flooded thirty towns with water reaching eight metres in depth, some communities relocated entirely to higher ground.
More recently, municipalities like Ontinyent have demolished residential areas to create flood-prone parks as a preventative measure.
According to the regional president, the new parks will create "a green area equivalent to the Casa de Campo in Madrid" and serve as "a new defence against potential floods."
Image: GVA
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