Mayor highlights the execution of major cultural facilities for Estepona in his balance of the year

The councilor pointed out that during 2024 important infrastructures and projects such as the Library of Contemporary Cultures, the Conservatory of Music, the climbing wall, the Castle of San Luis, Avenida España and Terraza Street have been put into operation.

The Consistory has been executing during this year other works of interest such as the parking located in the vicinity of the church of Carmen, new sections of coastal corridor or the Grand Boulevard.

The mayor of Estepona, José María García Urbano, today took stock of the municipal management of 2024 and noted that this year will be remembered for the implementation of important public facilities for the city. In that sense, has indicated that Estepona has since the last few months with a number of new projects that further strengthen it as a modern, sustainable and interested in bringing culture and knowledge municipality.

García Urbano has indicated that during 2024 has managed to fully equip the Mirador del Carmen, so that today citizens can enjoy a unique cultural complex in the Mediterranean that brings together such interesting spaces as a first class exhibition hall, a music conservatory, an imposing eight-storey library, an auditorium, restaurants and a viewpoint with panoramic and breathtaking views of Estepona and its surroundings.

In this regard, the alderman has commented that one of the main historical demands of the city, as was the conservatory, has already been satisfied with the implementation of formal teaching for clarinet, guitar, piano and saxophone. To this must be added the recent launch of the Library of Contemporary Cultures, an ambitious cultural project where users can consult funds, study, make podcasts or participate in coworking projects, among other issues. “This library is destined to become a cultural icon in the province for its outreach ambitions, for encouraging reading and thinking in children, young people and adults, and for its flexibility of use,” said García Urbano.

In his opinion, the third cultural milestone of the year was the recent opening to the public of the Castillo de San Luis, a fortress built in the 16th century that had remained hidden from the public for almost 100 years. After more than a decade of expropriation work, administrative procedures and negotiations with the competent bodies in the field of heritage, Estepona has been able to recover this historical jewel as an exhibition space in the old town.

Moreover, the mayor has indicated that 2024 has also been important for the giant strides that have been made in urban sustainability. In this regard, he stressed that the completion of the pedestrianization of Avenida España and the complete remodeling of Terraza Street have meant that citizens have recovered public spaces for their enjoyment and that Estepona has become an example of sustainability and compliance with European directives that urge that the urban areas of the municipalities are free of pollution.

In sports, the City of Estepona has also achieved new advances such as the implementation of the climbing wall that is located in the Fair and Sports Park. This facility, the largest of its kind outdoors in Spain, has allowed our city to enter through the front door in the climbing circuit of the country. In addition to being an attraction for elite athletes and teams that practice this discipline, the climbing wall is encouraging the number of climbing enthusiasts to increase month after month.

Continuing with projects linked to sport and healthy lifestyle habits, the Consistory has made progress this year in the initiative of the coastal corridor. The commissioning of new sections will make it possible for the path to be completed in its entirety during 2025.

As has been the case since 2011, another of the achievements this year has once again been the reduction of the inherited debt of more than 300 million euros. After more than a decade of efforts and a firm commitment to clean up the municipal accounts, the Estepona City Council will conclude this year with a debt of 24 million euros. Thus, the mayor has advanced that this goal will remain a priority during 2025, to the point that the forecast for the first half of next year is that the inherited debt is reduced to less than 10 million euros.

Finally, the mayor has indicated that during this year the Consistory has again shown its commitment to the most vulnerable people in the city, serving people who require it.