The council allocates 600,000 euros for the maintenance and surveillance of the twenty recreational areas available on the Island. The island president Peter Martinexplains that “after the pandemic, the use of these infrastructures in protected natural spaces has increased and therefore it is expected to improve their management.”
The Governing Council approved this week an item of 607,064 euros for the maintenance during the remainder of 2022 and until November 2023 of the recreational areas of the island’s protected natural spaces. The purpose of the assignment will be to carry out a comprehensive management service consisting of work to repair incidents, cleaning, assistance, information and surveillance in these spaces aimed at enjoying family leisure in nature.
“Recreational areas are a resource widely used by Tenerife society, and that is why we must keep them in the best possible condition throughout the year,” says the president of the Cabildo. Martín adds that “this assignment is the consolidation of the one that was developed during 2022 when just over 500,000 euros were invested, in addition to hiring 14 people.”
In this new programming, those recreational areas in which there are no permanently assigned personnel will be taken into account. with the establishment of continuous schedules both on weekdays and on weekends, which is when more assistance is registered in them.
The Councilor for Natural Environment Management and Security of the Cabildo, Isabel García, recalls that “recreational areas complement the visit to protected natural areas and therefore must be in perfect condition.” She insists on “always attending to the needs of the users, although -she assures- in some of them the influx of people is so great that sometimes it is difficult to maintain these minimum conditions”.
The counselor also points out that these places “are in nature, and therefore users must take into account the signs and indications and be respectful of the environment.”
The recreational areas of the Protected Natural Areas are the responsibility of the Island Council of Tenerife and its use is intended for celebrations and meals in direct contact with nature, for recreation and leisure purposes. For this reason, in these environments, stoves, tables and benches, water points, toilets, parking area for vehicles and children’s play modules have been set up.
The Cabildo has 20 recreational areas with capacity for more than 8,000 people. At present there are four closed: those of Chío, in Guía de Isora, and Las Hayas, in Icod, due to works; that of La Tahona, in San Juan de la Rambla, due to the recent fire last summer, and that of Los Frailes, in Arafo, for safety.
These areas are freely accessible; However, exceptionally, other social, cultural, sports, political or religious activities may be carried out, among others, which must be authorized, in order to assess their condition for the environment and if the number of members of the group exceeds the capacity of the space.
