el Parc Nou

El Parc Nou is a 14.4-hectare metropolitan park on the southern edge of El Prat de Llobregat, right next to the Sant Cosme neighbourhood and a short distance from Barcelona-El Prat Airport. It's a shady green space where locals from the Llobregat delta come to relax among poplars and pines, built on land with an unexpectedly turbulent past.

Where does the park come from, and what's its history?

The land now occupied by the park used to be farmland. In 1965, construction began here on the Sant Cosme housing estate, led by the Obra Sindical del Hogar in what was then an agricultural area close to the airport. Once the foundations for the houses and streets were laid, work stopped because of the airport's proximity, and the abandoned plots turned into illegal dumping grounds overrun by rats. In 1982, the Ministry of Housing, together with El Prat's city council and residents of Sant Cosme, decided that a park should replace the stalled housing project. Poplar planting began in 1983, the pine section followed in 1991, and the whole park was finished in 1995.

What will you find inside?

The park has a distinctive triangular shape split into two zones with very different characters. The centre is a dense, enclosed poplar grove — poplars thrive in delta conditions, so this area stays cool and shaded even in summer. Around the perimeter, a more open zone is dominated by pine trees. A pond adds further variety to the landscape, giving the park more texture than a typical urban green space.

There's plenty here for families and active visitors: a children's road-safety circuit, a playground, basketball and football pitches, table-tennis tables, a dog area, picnic spots, bicycle parking, and drinking fountains. A restaurant and a café are also on site, so a full day out is easy to plan.

How do you get to El Parc Nou?

The park sits on Ronda Sud in El Prat de Llobregat, right beside the Sant Cosme neighbourhood and close to the airport. It's an easy stop whether you're coming from elsewhere in the Baix Llobregat area or from Barcelona itself — cycling is a practical option given the on-site bike parking, and driving works well too thanks to the roads serving the airport zone.

When is the best time to visit?

The poplar grove keeps the park shaded and pleasant even on hot days, making spring and summer especially inviting. In autumn and winter, the pine section stays green, so a walk here remains worthwhile year-round — this is a park built for everyday use rather than a single peak season.

Frequently asked questions

How big is El Parc Nou? The park covers 14.4 hectares in a triangular layout, with a dense poplar grove at its centre and a more open pine-dominated zone around the edges.

Is there anywhere to eat in the park? Yes — there's a restaurant and a café on site, plus picnic areas for visitors who bring their own food.

Is the park suitable for children? Very much so. It has a playground, a children's road-safety circuit, and sports pitches, making it a solid choice for families.

Why was the park built here specifically? The land was originally meant for the Sant Cosme housing estate, but construction stopped due to the airport's proximity. In 1982, authorities decided to turn the abandoned site into a park instead, completing it in 1995.