The Mirador de la Ponderosa is located in Vallbona. The work was carried out with a sustainable focus, with elements such as the construction of a tank to collect water, the elimination of invasive species, the introduction of native species and the preservation of the biodiversity of the area.

The project promotes sustainable mobility, facilitates territorial cohesion with local people in nearby municipalities and improves access to safe, green inclusive and sustainable public spaces in an area well connected with public transport. The project actually promotes routes for pedestrians and cyclists, offering natural spaces for health and well-being that promote coexistence between local residents and visitors, complementing the options offered by the city and nearby counties all through the year.

Sustainable materials and vegetation

Clearing work was carried out to green up the surroundings at the Mirador de la Ponderosa, and parts of the concrete covering the canal and along the side of the path have been removed. These sections have been replaced with coconut fibre bio rolls with plant species that help to improve the water quality and guarantee a more suitable habitat for the associated fauna, such as the yellow iris and different types of bulrushes. Between the waterway and the riverbank and in the areas nearest to the cultivation spaces of La Ponderosa, Mediterranean vegetation has been introduced.

The pedestrian path has permeable paving with layers of drainage material made from natural decomposed gravel and granite. Access to the cultivation areas at La Ponderosa also have sustainable urban drainage systems to help rainwater drain into the land.

At the same time, to favour the circular economy and minimise waste, the walls at the foot of the slope were created on the spot with materials from the demolition of the obsolete structures. Pieces from the concrete canal have also been reused to enable visitors to get close to the rail at the viewpoint over the cultivation area. The viewpoint here also features landscape markers highlighting the heritage of the ecosystem and acting as meeting points that note the social value of the old bridges.

Finally, the process made the most of the movement of soil during the work to create an underground tank of 200 cubic metres, the idea being to allow for the future rationalisation of watering of the cultivation areas at La Ponderosa through drip-watering systems.

Project to regain the Rec Comtal

The work forms part of the project to regain the Rec Comtal, the medieval canal that still acts as a water course through the neighbourhoods of Vallbona (Barcelona) and Can Sant Joan (Montcada i Reixach). Headed by Barcelona City Council, the project aims to consolidate this watercourse and launch a new green tourism route that links this area with the neighbourhood of Trinitat Vella, in the district of Sant Andreu.

The recovery of the Rec Comtal aims to highlight its historical and heritage value and strengthen its role as an environmental resource, improving the biodiversity of the neighbourhoods it runs through and recovering the space as a reserve for fauna to recover the banks of the Besòs river. The project will also help exploit the potential of the Besòs environment by promoting sustainable mobility with routes for pedestrians and cyclists all along the route. The route of the Rec Comtal includes various historical constructions used for getting water to the city.