Paseo Marítimo: Big Spending, Little Everyday Usefulness

Paseo Marítimo: Pretty Facade, Rough Reality

In the early morning, when delivery vans are still supplying the last cafés and seagulls cry over the yachts, the Paseo Marítimo looks tidy: new paving, modern benches, neat lamps. Two hours later, the harsh reality returns. Empty beer cans clink in the wind, scraps of paper fly across the promenade and the smell of urine lingers at some doorways. For people who live here, this is not an aesthetic issue — it affects being able to leave windows open, having a quiet breakfast every day and getting home at night without stepping on broken glass.

The central question: Where did the impact of the millions go?

€40 million was spent on redesigning the waterfront, officially to enhance the promenade and create places worth staying. But when large sums go into paving and design, it often only becomes clear later whether everyday life was really taken into account. Did planners and politicians consider operation, cleaning and enforcement when tendering the project? Or was the project calculated as a one-off investment — pretty in photos, but without a long-term concept?

What residents say

Voices from Avenida Gabriel Roca are irritated. "You can hardly leave your window open," says a resident who has lived here for years. Others report nightly drinking sprees on benches and steps, glass bottles and furniture lying on the sidewalk in the morning, and visitors who apparently cannot find public restrooms and then use house entrances. A café owner on the corner by the marina sums it up simply: "When a few groups leave everything behind every night, a bad impression remains — even for paying guests."

A look behind the scenes: Where does it fail?

Several factors come together. First, there apparently lacks a clear operations plan: who cleans at night, who intervenes when groups riot? Responsibilities between the city, port authority and local businesses are often less visible than new lamps. Then the infrastructure: public toilets are scarce, trash bins too few and poorly distributed. Cleaning is not a one-off expense but an ongoing item — and it costs. Last but not least, enforcement plays a role. Fines and checks only work if they are carried out regularly and not just as symbolic measures.

Aspects that have been insufficiently considered so far

Three points rarely appear in the public debate: first, management after the construction phase — many projects remain without a fixed operations contract after opening. Second, the social use of the space: a promenade is not a museum; it is used at night by different groups. Third, the economic incentives: some businesses benefit from late opening hours and lax controls; without clear rules the balance remains disturbed.

Concrete suggestions from residents and experts

The demands are practical and unpretentious: more frequent cleaning runs in the early morning hours, more waste containers along the promenade, temporary additional public toilets on weekends and during summer nights. Many also argue for better coordination between police, city administration and business owners — for example a joint night patrol or a quick reporting mechanism for residents via a hotline or app.

On the legal level, residents suggest stricter controls and consistent sanctions against businesses that cause problems through overly loud serving behavior or permissive opening hours. The idea is to think holistically: construction plus operation plus enforcement.

Less obsession with control, more thoughtful design

Some proposals sound drastic — temporarily closing certain sections at night or more surveillance cameras — others surprisingly low-threshold: more benches at strategic spots to disperse groups; lower walls and planting islands that guide sitting behavior naturally; better lighting on stairs without creating a sense of a police state. The important principle is this: infrastructure changes should steer user behavior rather than merely punish it.

Thinking long-term: A usage concept for the Paseo

In the long term, many call for a comprehensive usage concept that integrates residential life, business and tourism. Concretely that means: rules for opening hours, noise limits, cleanliness responsibilities for event organizers, a built-in maintenance fund for cleaning and security, and a permanent residents' representation that participates in planning. Such models exist elsewhere on the island — and they work if implemented seriously.

Conclusion

Those who love the Paseo Marítimo are disappointed. The new lamps and the pretty paving are only half the story. A plan for everyday life is needed: more cleaning, clear responsibilities, public toilets and better coordination between authorities and business owners. Investing money in projects is important. Even more important is spending it in a way that allows people to live here at night with peace and dignity — not just for postcard photos.

The city bears responsibility: investments must be accompanied by operational and enforcement strategies. Otherwise millions of euros remain merely good photos for brochures.