No more north-south Divide for San Pedro Residents

Since the new boulevard opened in San Pedro last December, local residents have been asking themselves - and their mayor - what is to come next, now that the north-south divide of their little town has been abolished and the new park and avenue has united the town's two sides? Inaugurated by Ángeles Muñoz, Marbella's mayor, the transformation of San Pedro took 16 months to complete and a total of six million euros, and while this has already brought far better facilities for local residents, still more needs to be done to create a San Pedro fit for the 21st century.

Creating a Costa del Sol Town Centre fit for the Future

Built by a local consortium of firms, the transformed 55,000 square metres that were once occupied by the main road are now home to San Pedro Boulevard and the busy main road runs underground, giving San Pedro's image a much needed boost. This is particularly important, given how many luxury homes in the area are still awaiting buyers. At around 900,000 euros for a 2 or 3 bed apartment, San Pedro is not exactly affordable for the average foreign buyer. An image boost can't come too soon, as far as property developers are concerned.

The Boulevard now provides local residents with a meeting point and tourists with a focal point. The new park boasts multiple water features and gardens with aromatic herbs and mostly Mediterranean species that should please older visitors who come to San Pedro to spend the winter months in warmer climes.

At the heart of the new Boulevard and park, however, lies a spectacular 300-metre footbridge fashioned from 150 tonnes of steel and designed by local architect Juan Antonio Fernández, who has named this undulated wonder as "Un Mar de Sensaciones", a raised walkway of sensations that leads walkers straight to the sea.

This new walkway allows the densely populated northern part of San Pedro to connect to the southern side of town, where the seafront promenade, nightlife and shops are located and luxury apartment developments await buyers.

Tempting Locals and Tourists back into San Pedro Town Centre

The new boulevard and park also aim to attract families back into the town centre. There are no fewer than six children's play parks, the largest measuring 650 square metres, and an open air theatre with seating for 800 spectators. Eventually, the park's artificial ice rink will open to the public, which should attract plenty of visitors during the winter months. There is also an 800 square metre plot set aside to accommodate a future food market.

Locals and tourists alike are also looking forward to trying out three new bars this summer, when their terraces will be brimming with tables and chairs.

Two information terminals allow everyone access to Wi-Fi in this newly created area and the addition of a tourist information office aims to put San Pedro back on the tourism map.

Day trippers from Marbella will particularly welcome the 311 new parking spaces for cars and 81 new parking spaces for motorcycles, 70 spaces for bicycles and 9 spaces for coaches.

Next year will see a further 1 million euros of development money going into various projects, including town centre pedestrianisation and remodelling initiatives. Improved public transportation and promotional campaigns for local commerce, plus the creation of the covered market area are still to come.

For those currently contemplating where to buy a holiday home or permanent home in the greater Marbella area, the improvements to local facilities seen in San Pedro are more than encouraging.