City Park Póvoa de Varzim

Category: Nature > Park

District: Porto > Póvoa de Varzim > Póvoa de Varzim > Aver-o-Mar, Amorim e Terroso

Location

The City Park of Póvoa de Varzim is a public green space, integrated in the area of Aver-o-Mar, Amorim, and Terroso, in the municipality of Póvoa de Varzim. Covering a vast area, it extends from the A28 motorway to the Pedreira Lagoon, fitting into an environment that transitions between urban and natural. Its position in the locality offers visitors a pleasant environment for leisure and tranquility.

Design and Environment

This park was born from an ambitious project by landscape architect Sidónio Pardal. Conceived over an old plain, where streams and cultivated fields once existed, the space was transformed through land modeling. The result is a diverse landscape, punctuated by gentle hills, inviting paths, small bridges, and spaces that encourage rest. Inaugurated in 2009, the park seeks to balance human intervention with nature, offering an environment conducive to outdoor activity and contemplation.

The Heart of the Park: The Lake and Wildlife

One of the most distinctive elements of the City Park is its central lake, covering two hectares, which serves as the focal point of the landscape. This body of water, fed by the small stream of Ribeira do Esteiro, provides an atmosphere of great serenity. In its center, an expressive island stands out, inaccessible to visitors and flanked by rocks that emerge to the surface, serving as a sanctuary for wildlife. The park is a vibrant ecosystem, attracting various species of water birds, many of which nest there or use it as a stopping point on their migratory routes. It is possible to observe mallards, geese, swans, cormorants, and coots, among others. In addition to birds, the lake and its surroundings host reptiles such as the Mediterranean pond turtle and mammals like water voles, making it a privileged place for nature lovers and wildlife observation.

Structure and Leisure

With a current area of approximately 30 hectares, the City Park invites exploration and the practice of various activities. It is characterized by extensive green areas and hosts about 1600 trees of 26 different species, designed to grow and enrich the landscape over time. The lake is surrounded by approximately three kilometers of paths, ideal for walking and running. Along these routes, there are twenty "stations," structures made of granite and schist that serve as resting points, some configured as small squares or amphitheaters, others more secluded. The park also includes the Municipal Stadium and football fields, dedicated to sports practice by local communities. From one of the hills in the eastern part, a wide and privileged view of the entire park and its lake can be obtained.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt