Barcelona continues to make progress in the fight against climate change and extreme heat. On this occasion, the City Council has announced the installation of shade systems in 34 new playgrounds in the city. This project, part of the Programa d’Espais de Proximitat i Interiors, aims to make parks more comfortable and safer for children, protecting them from solar radiation.
54 playgrounds will have shades next summer
The installation of these shade systems is not new. With this new tender, which has a budget of 2,275,000 euros, a total of 54 parks in Barcelona will be equipped with shades by next summer. These devices, which are removable, tensioned shade sails, are installed in the areas with the highest solar radiation, detected after an exhaustive evaluation. This project not only aims to make play areas more pleasant, but also to reduce the exposure of children, who are one of the most vulnerable groups to extreme heat. The city’s adaptation to climate change is a priority, and the installation of shades is just one of the steps to achieve this goal.
Priority areas: where new shades will be installed
The playgrounds selected for this tender are located in different districts of Barcelona, with criteria such as solar exposure and the impossibility of planting trees. Some of the parks that will benefit from this shade system are the Jardins de Menéndez y Pelayo in Gràcia, the Jardins de les Tres Xemeneies in Sants-Montjuïc, or the Parc del Maresme in Sant Martí, among others. Eixample, Les Corts, Gràcia, Sants-Montjuïc, Horta-Guinardó, Nou Barris, Sant Andreu and Sant Martí are the districts where the new shades will be placed. In each of these areas, specific shade needs have been detected due to the high solar radiation at certain times of the day, which makes them priority areas for the installation of these devices.
Climate urbanism: a city adapted to new challenges
This shade installation project is not an isolated effort. It is part of the Barcelona Climate Plan, an initiative that seeks to prepare the city for the climate challenges that are already affecting the population. The plan seeks to mitigate the effects of climate change, such as the increase in heat waves, which are becoming more frequent in cities. Urban shading not only provides thermal comfort, but also helps to reduce energy consumption in buildings by reducing direct solar radiation. They also make it easier for people to use public spaces all year round, even on the hottest days, which improves the quality of life of citizens.
The importance of shaded spaces in an increasingly hot city
Barcelona already has large green areas that provide natural shade. However, this is not enough to cope with heat waves. Therefore, the City Council has carried out an exhaustive assessment work to identify the areas most exposed to solar radiation and determine where it is most urgent to act. The vulnerability map of the city has been key in this process, considering factors such as the density of vegetation, the number of people over 75 years of age and the socioeconomic level of the areas. Other criteria have also been taken into account, such as proximity to schools, residences, health and sports centers, identifying those areas where solar protection is most needed. These analyses make it possible not only to improve thermal comfort, but also to reduce the impact of the urban heat island, a phenomenon that exacerbates high temperatures in densely populated areas.
One more step towards a more sustainable and livable city
With the installation of these shades, Barcelona is positioning itself as a resilient city in the face of climate challenges. The aim is not only to improve the comfort of the parks, but also to make public spaces more livable and sustainable. This project is a continuation of the actions the city has already implemented to reduce carbon emissions, encourage sustainable mobility and promote more environmentally friendly urbanism. In short, these shades will not only improve the lives of the little ones, but will also contribute to making Barcelona a more sustainable city that is better prepared to face the high temperatures that, unfortunately, will continue to rise in the coming years. Protecting the most vulnerable from the heat is a priority, and this measure is just one of the many actions being taken to achieve this.
