Parc Central

Parc Central is one of Valencia's largest urban parks, built on the former railway sidings and workshop grounds next to the historic Estación del Norte train station. The park partially opened on 17 December 2018, with its first phase covering roughly 40% of the planned area — close to 11 hectares, or 110,826 square metres. It now forms a green link between the Russafa and Malilla neighbourhoods, right where freight tracks and shunting yards once cut through the middle of the city.

Why does the park exist here?

The land had been railway property since 1917, when the tracks and workshops serving the nearby Estación del Norte were laid out. That station, designed by Valencian architect Demetrio Ribes, is one of the city's best-known examples of Valencian Modernisme. The idea of burying the rail lines and returning the surface to the public first surfaced in 1988, but turning that idea into an actual park took decades of negotiation between the city, the region and national rail authorities. The winning design ultimately came from Scottish landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson, chosen through an international competition; she is also known for landscape work such as the Diana Memorial Fountain in London.

What is there to do in Parc Central?

The park is organised around a network of paths and open plazas that split the grounds into distinct zones for walking, sport and play. More than a thousand trees and a wide range of native plant species were planted to provide shade and recreate the kind of microclimates typical of a Mediterranean city. Families will find several playgrounds, including one built around a climbing wall, slides and water features that let children cool off on hot days. Skaters and rollerbladers have their own dedicated skatepark, while runners and cyclists can follow marked paths running through the whole site. At the heart of the park sits a large central plaza, also used for open-air events.

Is it just a park, or part of something bigger?

Parc Central is one piece of a much larger urban renewal scheme known as Valencia Parque Central, aimed at completely reshaping the old railway lands in the city centre. The wider plan includes a new intermodal station, Estación Central, meant to bring long-distance trains, the metro and the tram together under one roof. The park residents already stroll through today is therefore only the first stage of a much bigger network of green space and transport infrastructure planned to eventually cover far more ground than the current 11 hectares.

Frequently asked questions

Where exactly is Parc Central located? The park sits in central Valencia, on the site of former railway workshops, between the Russafa and Malilla districts, close to the historic Estación del Norte.

When did the park open to the public? Its first phase opened on 17 December 2018, covering about 40% of the area planned in the final design.

Is the park suitable for children? Yes. It has several playgrounds with slides, a climbing wall and water features, alongside safe walking paths throughout.

Who designed the park? Scottish landscape architect Kathryn Gustafson designed it, after winning an international competition for the site.

Can you cycle or skate in the park? Yes, marked paths are available for cyclists and runners, and a separate skatepark area is set aside for skaters and rollerbladers.

What was on this site before the park was built? From 1917 the site held railway tracks and workshops serving the Estación del Norte. The idea of removing them and building a park dates back to 1988, but it took roughly three more decades to complete.