Paseo Marítimo in Palma: Attractive from Afar, Overgrown Corners and Too Few Parking Spaces

Paseo Marítimo in Palma: Beautiful from afar, chaotic in some corners

Anyone walking along the Paseo Marítimo these days will hear the typical sounds of Mallorca: seagulls screeching, a boat horn in the distance, the clack of bicycle bells on smooth stone. The overall impression is tidy, with new paving, benches overlooking the water. But on closer inspection there are gaps: weeds grow between the slabs, isolated tufts of grass run wild in the beds, and gravel areas have been left untouched for weeks as if the construction crew had already been sent away.

The neighborhood between pride and frowns

At the corner café, at nine in the morning and around six in the evening, people speak openly. "The promenade is beautiful, but I can hardly find a parking space anymore," says a woman climbing the steps with a full shopping bag. An older man adds: "I used to park in front of my door, now I walk three streets further." This formula "nicer, but fewer parking spaces" runs through many conversations. For some, the question is: has pedestrian quality really been gained — or only at the expense of residents?

Another annoyance is the new wall at the Can-Barbarà bay. From some angles it looks cool and smooth, almost like a backdrop that blocks the open view of the sea. Some residents speculate that it was a purely aesthetic decision; others suspect plain planning failure: a wrong balance between protection and openness.

Construction phase, promises and maintenance afterwards

The official opening is scheduled for October. Until then, construction and adjustments are supposed to continue — so the promise goes. Yet the pace of interventions is noticeable: short, quick actions like the abrupt dismantling of a bridge at the Hotel Mediterráneo were carried out quickly. In contrast, subsequent maintenance seems to be neglected: no regular weeding, no coordinated irrigation and no visible upkeep plan for the new planting areas.

The issue of use is also changing: the expropriated former social club building remains a talking point. The operators have apparently moved into former rooms in the Melià Victoria — a provisional solution that shows the neighborhood how quickly social meeting places can shift here.

The guiding question: Can the Paseo really become a lively meeting place?

That is the crucial question. A nicely laid out paseo alone is not enough. Public spaces live from maintenance, clear rules and the participation of the people who use them daily. Some aspects have been underrepresented in the debate so far:

Long-term maintenance instead of one-off design: A professional, regular maintenance crew with defined intervals for weeding, watering and cleaning should be planned — not as a cost at the end, but as part of the project from the start.

Rethinking parking: When parking spaces disappear, fair replacement solutions are needed: resident parking permits, time-limited short-term spaces for shopping or offering discounted neighborhood rates in nearby car parks could help restore balance.

Wall at Can-Barbarà: Where views are blocked, small openings, seating niches or artistic perforations could provide sightlines and improve the quality of stay. A design readjustment would break the cold look while creating safe spaces for lingering.

Climate-adapted planting: Instead of sensitive exotics, robust, drought-resistant groundcovers and Mediterranean shrubs should be planted. They need less care, withstand heat and salty sea air and prevent weeds from growing between the slabs.

Participation and neighborhood projects: Initiatives like adopt-a-strip — neighbors maintaining sections — or a small local budget share for maintenance work could involve people and reduce costs at the same time.

Looking ahead: Use the opportunities before they become overgrown

The new Paseo Marítimo has real potential: on windless evenings the benches would be full, children could safely run to the water's edge, and cafés could rely on more regular customers. But it requires pragmatism: clear maintenance structures, sensible parking rules and an open dialogue between the city, planners and residents.

Until then the picture remains mixed — a little pride, a little discontent. Typical for Palma, a city that keeps reinventing itself between the sound of the sea and construction noise. If those responsible now make adjustments, the pretty project can become a true public space. If not, the lovely idea will grow wild at the edges while the seagulls and bicycle bells continue to sing their song.