Palma bets on El Terreno: Three million for a neighborhood meant to come alive again

New paving stones, more shade and a plan for the evening

Late in the morning the mayor stood with his arms crossed on the freshly redesigned Plaza Gomila — not to pose, but because you have to see the result to believe how much a new surface changes the atmosphere. The city announces that by the end of 2025 it will invest a total of more than three million euros in El Terreno, according to Palma Invests More in El Terreno: What the Renovation Will Actually Deliver.

That sounds like a lot of money for a neighborhood that had long been a bit sleepy. In fact, almost €1.1 million has already been spent on various measures: curbs have been raised or widened, utility lines were buried and in some corners there are now flower boxes instead of rundown spots. Those who used to stumble over broken slabs yesterday now walk on even ground — simple, but a difference for residents.

Concrete works — and practical effects

The works focus on Plaza Gomila and Avenida de Joan Miró. There, sidewalks were widened and new trees planted — costs for this section are said to be around €221,500. On Carrer de Germans Schembri and around Plaza Gomila paving stones worth about €155,000 have been renewed.

Park Sa Quarentena also gained more room to relax: a new playground, repaired benches — all for around €226,200. And on Carrer de s'Aiigo Dolça work is underway with a budget of about €208,000. On paper these are numbers. On site you notice that the parking situation is stabilizing and children can slide uninterrupted again.

Public sector meets private investment

The city emphasizes that the upgrade is not funded solely by municipal money. Private investors are on board as well, they say — and that makes sense. If cafes, small hotels and even a few shops invest, the street works differently: more foot traffic, fewer empty shop windows. At least that's the plan.

Whether El Terreno will fully regain its former image as an entertainment hotspot remains open. Officials say it's not only about nightlife, but about a lasting, functioning neighborhood — by day as well as by night. I've noticed: on the avenue you now more often see people strolling slowly, dogs on leashes, children in prams. Those are good signs.

Putting the cards on the table

At Palma's town hall, when you add up the figures, the millions mount up. Investments in road surfaces, new trees, barrier-free sidewalks and playgrounds add up — and are intended to make the neighborhood more stable, and more details on access improvements are available in El Terreno Gets an Elevator — a Small Step with Big Impact. Whether that's enough to enthuse tourists, newcomers and long-term residents alike, nobody knows for sure. The city's wider housing strategy is discussed in Palma plans 3,600 homes — Opportunities, risks and the big question of infrastructure. But: a well-kept square invites people to stay — and that can pay off slowly.

I myself will go back tomorrow. At 11 a.m., when the bakery on the corner takes out fresh ensaimadas and the coffee from the bar opposite steams. You can describe a construction project in numbers — or you can go and feel whether a quarter is breathing again.