The new children's area in Los Aromas, located in Los Belgas, Collado Villalba, has recently been opened. This facility features a 9-meter-high structure, the largest of its kind in the Community of Madrid, and includes various slides and play elements designed for children aged 6 to 12.
The renovation of this recreational zone, which previously lacked a children's play area, involved adapting the sloped terrain. This initiative is part of a broader project by the City Council, which has allocated a total of 380,000 euros, sourced from treasury surplus, to these improvements.
Collado Villalba boasts 45 outdoor children's areas across the municipality. Over 90% of these zones have been renovated in the last two years, with a total investment nearing one million euros. The upgrades have included incorporating state-of-the-art elements that comply with current safety and accessibility regulations.
“"This type of children's element is more like a child-youth element, it's something that families in Collado Villalba demanded a lot, because all playgrounds are for up to 6 years old, and this one is for a bit more, from 6 to 12 years old, although I actually think 14 and 15-year-olds are using it and it's solid enough for them to use it without vandalizing, that is, because we've already seen that the first time we came to see the park someone made a scratch with a knife, which is a bit sad, because all the residents of Collado-Villalba pay for this, and I insist, it costs 400,000 euros."
A spokesperson for the City Council recalled other improvements made to the town's parks in recent years, such as the zip line in La Dehesa or the pyramid installed in Las Bombas park, which has been moved to Romacalderas after re-naturalization works. The installation of awnings in some of these children's areas was also highlighted.
Furthermore, the head of Urban Planning and Environment announced that the City Council will launch the “Conoce tu parque” (Know Your Park) campaign, which will inform residents “where they are located so they can create a playground route.”
All installed children's elements comply with specific technical requirements and hold the corresponding European standard certification for both game safety and auxiliary materials, as well as the safety of the base flooring and its cushioning. Installation works have included ground preparation, the construction of perimeter fencing for the children's areas, and the placement of informative signs detailing correct usage and features.
