The riverside park to the west of Faro officially was opened on Sunday morning and according to the mayor the site aims to be "a new centre" for the city.
The waterfront area is accessible from the roundabout by Teatro das Figuras and stretches towards the airport but so far has no events planned, just walking or cycling along the waterside.
There is one bird observatory, seating areas and an outdoor amphitheatre for 250 people but nothing special yet is planned to bring Faro’s residents to the 16 hectare area.
Built under the Polis environmental restoration programme for the Ria Formosa, the riverside park cost €3.5 million and has taken 20 years from original plan to completion.
Mayor Rogério Bacalhau commented "It's a long awaited project for Faro. Since I can remember I've heard of this project and it has been on many people’s minds. Now it is a reality and is new centre for the city of Faro."
Bacalhau is convinced that the citizens of Faro will use the new space and he hopes to see a repeat of what happened at the leisure park of Figuras with sporting activities and culture that attracts people to the riverside park.
"This Figuras area opened in 2010 with a new look for this type of sporting equipment. The city appropriated this riverside space and the same will happen here."
Bids invited in May by the council for the various kiosks and bars planned for the new riverside park failed to get any takers so the council is already preparing to relaunch the application process.
"Now that the park actually is open there may be some interested investors. I think so, because the area has many strengths," said Rogério Bacalhau.
Stage 1 of the park is complete but there is an ongoing controversy over stage 2 concerning the owner of the land behind the Hotel Ibis. He now doesn't want to sell, which blocks access to the Pontes de Marchil area, part of the original plan which would enable cyclists and walkers to go from Faro to the Montenegro area near the airport and on to Faro beach.
The problem is the price of the land as the owner wants the €450,000 agreed at a council meeting in 2011. The current valuation of the land is €190,000.
"It's a problem between the council and the owner of the land that we are trying to solve," explained Bacalhau.
Funding for the project was from the PO Algarve21 fund which chipped in more than €2 million, while the remaining amount will be paid for by the Tourism Intervention Programme, Faro Town Hall and “additional funding” from unknown sources of almost €180,000.
The original contract value was €2.9 million and the €600,000 over spend has not yet been explained.
