Paseo Marítimo: Palma's new promenade — Opening in mid-November, the real test comes afterwards

Paseo Marítimo: New life for Palma's waterfront, but questions remain

Standing on a windless morning at the Plaza de Santo Domingo, as described in Last corner of the Paseo Marítimo: Palma gets its promenade back, you can hear the sea even though it is still a bit away: the distant clack of a small excavator, the rattling of a bus heading to Portopí, the occasional cry of a seagull. Construction fences give way to wooden pallets, red warning markings lose their alarm. After almost three years of works, the port authority has scheduled the opening of the revamped Paseo Marítimo for the second weekend in November — 15 and 16 November, according to Paseo Marítimo Near Completion: Reopening at the End of October — and the Uncomfortable Questions. But the celebration is only the beginning.

What was actually built — and what remains visible

The new Paseo is more than a freshly concreted path. Wider sidewalks, separated bike lanes, new squares and significantly more planting are the result of an approximately €40 million project, as reported in The new Paseo Marítimo is open: trees, wide paths and improved accessibility. If you take the bus in the morning, you can see it: new rows of trees, redesigned plazas, and the remnants of the pedestrian bridge in front of the Hotel Mediterráneo are expected to be removed by early November. In the sunshine the new areas gleam, and when you pass by you can still smell the fresh asphalt mixed with sea air.

Celebration, sport and a good cause

The opening weekend has been deliberately planned as a big city festival: stretching, body combat, yoga, salsa, swing, Zumba and a small fair with local vendors will fill the Plaza de Santo Domingo. As a “highlight” a 10-kilometre run is scheduled; bib numbers cost €10 and the proceeds will benefit Projecte Home Balears. The idea of the first runners rushing past the cathedral brings a satisfied smile to many residents — after so much noise and dirt a small reward.

The uncomfortable question: Will it stay that way?

At the same time criticism remains loud. Residents report neglected beds full of weeds, missing bins and fewer parking spaces. Some complain about late-night smells and public urination. A café owner on the corner of Passeig dryly says: “The promenade looks better, but it also has to stay clean now — otherwise all the effort was just a nice day on the calendar.”

That is the core question: a new surface can be laid quickly, but lasting quality requires staff, time and money. In public discussion people like to celebrate what is visibly new. Less visible — and often too little considered — are the ongoing costs and social consequences: who will look after cleanliness at night? How will the public order office respond to harassment? Are the new green areas designed so that they remain low-maintenance in the long term?

Aspects that are rarely discussed

1) Long-term maintenance costs: The €40 million covers construction costs. But who pays for the weekly cleanings, the replacement of damaged benches or the pruning of trees in five years' time?

2) Pressure of use and infrastructure: Fewer parking spaces can be good for pedestrians — but they also put pressure on residents and suppliers. How will that be regulated?

3) Social issues: Public spaces attract everyone, including people in precarious situations. Without accompanying measures (low-threshold services, day centres, social work), problems such as homelessness or visible drug use can become more apparent in prominent places.

Concrete steps to ensure the promenade is more than a photo motif

The city, the port authority and local businesses now have a duty not only to organise the opening but also to present a maintenance concept. Proposals that don't sound expensive but could have impact include:

More bins and smart emptying cycles: sensor-equipped containers and coordinated emptying schedules prevent overflowing bins after weekend events.

Adopt-a-stretch programmes: Local cafés, retailers and neighbourhood groups maintain sections of the promenade — with manageable benefits such as advertising space or tax incentives.

Social support measures: Mobile teams from social services, addiction counselling and basic medical care should be present at major events and build long-term contact points.

Design for low maintenance: Choose salt-tolerant, low-maintenance plants; use paving that is easy to clean; provide additional toilet facilities designed to prevent vandalism.

Traffic management: Clear rules for delivery zones and resident parking, combinable with transparent alternatives such as shuttle services on long weekends.

A call for patience — and participation

On 15 and 16 November the promenade will shine. Music, market stalls and sporting activities will fill the plaza. That matters: such openings create identity, bring people together and give public spaces life. But then the real trial period begins — everyday life.

If you live, work or simply like to walk here: report problems, get involved in initiatives, support local maintenance efforts. The city can plan, the port authority can build — but the promenade lives through those who use and protect it every day. Opening it once is half the job. The other half is called maintenance, communication and willingness to compromise.

Sign up now or drop by

Those who want to run in the charity race should secure their bib numbers in good time. Those who only watch: take the time to listen to the sound of the sea in the distance, and watch whether the new benches actually invite people to linger — or whether someone has already carelessly left a bag lying around. A piece of Palma is coming back to life. The hope is great. The responsibility lies with all of us.