The new leisure center in the port of Torrevieja, which will operate under the Paseo del Mar brand , is in the final stages of construction and is scheduled to open in June. The initial date considered, at the end of May, has been ruled out, but both the City Council and the concessionaire insist that the complex will only open when the safety of users is fully guaranteed.
This project represents one of the most ambitious urban transformations in Torrevieja's recent history. It will not only create a large space dedicated to leisure, dining, and entertainment right on the waterfront, but will also redesign the entire surrounding area with new plazas, pedestrian walkways, green spaces, ornamental fountains, and a complete restoration of the historic Mínguez Wharf.
A multi-million dollar investment and a project in its final stages
The combined investment for the Paseo del Mar leisure center and the port renovation now exceeds €100 million . Of this amount, €61 million comes from the group of private companies led by businessman Enrique Riquelme, while approximately €40 million has been contributed by the Torrevieja City Council.
Riquelme, who heads the group of real estate companies in the Vega Baja region that spearheaded the project, explained that a significant portion of the private budget went toward a particularly complex foundation . The original port landfill necessitated doubling the initially planned piling, increasing the number of concrete piles from the 250 calculated in the project to 511, some over 40 meters deep, to create what he describes as a veritable "inverted swimming pool" next to the bay.
During one of the recent site visits, attended by Mayor Eduardo Dolón and Riquelme himself, it was confirmed that the works are already at a very advanced stage and that the pace of work has intensified. Currently, around 350 workers are simultaneously working on the adaptation of the common areas and the final touches to the premises.
The city council anticipates that the leisure center will open in June , while the exterior landscaping and some of the connections to the rest of the seafront will be completed throughout the summer. The exact opening date will be agreed upon by the various administrations involved and the concessionaire.
A large leisure center with franchises, cinemas and a bowling alley
The Paseo del Mar complex will be built on a surface area of approximately 20.000 square meters , of which around 8.000 are dedicated to the commercial area on the port's waterfront. A total of 27 premises are planned, primarily dedicated to restaurants, family leisure activities, and entertainment-related services.
Confirmed brands include major fast-food chains and restaurant groups such as McDonald's (with a two-story location) , KFC, Foster's Hollywood, Taco Bell, La Rollerie, Cien Montaditos, Brasa y Leña, Saona, an Asian restaurant, and other culinary concepts like Sibuya, Lateral, Santa Gloria, and the Amorino ice cream parlor. All of these spaces will feature large covered terraces, designed as a natural extension of the establishments into the port's waterfront.
In addition to restaurants, the leisure center will include an Ale-Hop store, which will be the complex's only retail offering to comply with regional regulations governing port area uses. The remaining establishments are geared towards leisure and dining, without forming a typical shopping center in terms of fashion or large retail spaces.
Audiovisual entertainment will be provided by the Neocine group, which will operate four state-of-the-art cinemas, offering a premium experience with highly comfortable seating. Alongside these, the construction of an American-style bowling alley with six lanes and adjacent recreational areas is nearing completion, designed for both residents and tourists.
The complex is complemented by a family leisure offering that will include recreational areas, covered and open walking areas, and different environments designed to extend the visitor's stay throughout the day, from morning until well into the night.
Employment and economic impact for Torrevieja and the Vega Baja
One of the project's key selling points is its impact on the local job market. The Paseo del Mar leisure center is expected to generate around 400 direct jobs once all the businesses are operational. Enrique Riquelme emphasized that the developers intend for the majority of these jobs to go to residents of Torrevieja and the surrounding Vega Baja region.
In addition to the permanent positions, the project has provided work for hundreds of professionals during the construction phase, from foundation and structural specialists to installation technicians, interior designers, landscape architects, and civil engineering workers. This level of employment is expected to have a ripple effect on local suppliers, support services, and tourism businesses.
The City Council believes that the opening of Paseo del Mar will be a major economic and tourism boost for the salt-producing city. The concentration of top-tier franchises, cinemas, a bowling alley, and leisure facilities in such a central location aims to attract both local residents and national and international visitors, especially during peak seasons such as Easter, summer, and long weekends.
However, the economic conditions set by the commercial area's management company, Óptima Global Services, have made it difficult for local restaurateurs to enter prime retail spaces, sparking some debate about the dominance of large franchises versus local businesses and restaurants. The company maintains that this model guarantees the long-term viability of the complex and the stability of the investment.
A profound transformation of the port area
The construction of the leisure center is accompanied by a comprehensive redevelopment of the port area , largely financed and carried out by the Torrevieja City Council. These municipal projects, exceeding 40 million euros, range from the rehabilitation of promenades and docks to the creation of large open spaces and new connections with the urban fabric.
One of the most prominent spaces is the pedestrian esplanade of approximately 17.000 square meters located between the leisure center and the former Paseo de la Libertad. This area, designed with prefabricated paving to support the weight of fairground attractions and temporary structures, is conceived as a fairground and multipurpose esplanade for cultural activities, concerts, festivals, and events throughout the year.
In this large space, a walkable fountain and a large central ornamental fountain are being built, composed of 43 compact, vertical, crystalline jets illuminated with multicolored LED projectors capable of generating thousands of nighttime color combinations. The main jet will reach approximately five meters in height, while those in the outer circles will reach about one and a half meters, making it one of the most striking visual elements of the new waterfront.
The project also includes the creation of a naturalized pergola, fourteen meters high, covered in climbing plants to generate ample shaded areas for concerts and outdoor activities. This feature complements new landscaped areas and the planting of more trees, with the aim of making an environment that has been heavily exposed to sun and traffic more pleasant.
The municipal project also includes the redevelopment of approximately 18.900 square meters designated for a fairground and multipurpose esplanade, with renovated underground infrastructure, new integrated lighting, expansion of the rainwater drainage network and an elevated structure that will connect the port front with the Levante dock, also functioning as a viewpoint towards the Mediterranean.
Restoration of the Mínguez dock, green areas and new walkways
Beyond the leisure center itself, one of the symbolic cornerstones of the project is the restoration of the Mínguez pier . A highly complex technical intervention is underway in this historic space to recover its original structure and incorporate a partially flooded platform that will evoke its traditional configuration, surrounded by seawater.
The Mínguez dock will also house a museum and educational space supported by digital resources, allowing visitors to learn about the port's historical evolution, fishing activity, and Torrevieja's relationship with the sea and salt. The specific investment in this area exceeds 6,1 million euros, with the aim of making it one of the port's new cultural and tourist landmarks.
Simultaneously, a promenade is being built between the fish market and La Marina bar, approximately eight meters wide , connecting the leisure center to the bay. A 170-meter pedestrian walkway is also being constructed alongside the fishing pier, featuring rest areas and children's playgrounds. A significant portion of vehicular traffic will be eliminated in this area, prioritizing pedestrian use and fostering a pleasant atmosphere for strolling and socializing.
Regarding green spaces, the City Council has confirmed that the landscaped area will be significantly expanded . The existing ficus trees will be preserved, the trees along the former Paseo de la Libertad will be reinforced, and new green areas will be created, bringing the total area to approximately 4.000 square meters of gardens. This would practically triple the green space that existed before the construction work. The project includes the planting of more than 200 trees and around 3.000 shrubs.
The remodeled port area will also maintain the ferry service connecting to Tabarca Island and will relocate the floating museum with the Delfín submarine and the patrol boats , pending regional authorization for dredging. The installation of one hundred new stalls for street vendors, popularly known as "hippies," is also planned, integrating this traditional element into the new urban landscape.
Connectivity, technology and city expectations
The development of Paseo del Mar extends beyond architecture and urban planning. The complex has been designed as a technologically advanced space , featuring high-capacity connectivity infrastructure. VegaFibra, part of the Avatel Group and headquartered in Orihuela Costa, has become the official provider of fiber optic and telephone services for the entire complex.
The company is deploying a communications network designed to guarantee stable, high-speed connections for both businesses and visitors, with more than 30 technicians finalizing the installation. The company emphasizes that this infrastructure will ensure the smooth operation of the center's digital services, from individual store management systems to public internet access.
On the urban level, the transformation of the waterfront also includes a new plaza of approximately 4.600 square meters near the Customs House, designed with materials that evoke Torrevieja's salt-making tradition. Adjacent to this plaza, a curtain-effect fountain is being installed near the pedestrian ramp of the Mínguez dock, and another large-scale fountain, with a budget of nearly half a million euros, is located at the entrance to the Levante breakwater promenade.
Local authorities believe this entire project will mark a turning point in the city's relationship with the sea . Mayor Eduardo Dolón has emphasized that the undertaking allows Torrevieja to reclaim its maritime heritage, integrating historical landmarks, contemporary leisure activities, green spaces, and high-quality public areas, with the aim of transforming the port from a mere transit point into a daily meeting place for residents and tourists alike.
With the Paseo del Mar leisure center scheduled to open in June and the exterior works gradually being completed throughout the summer, the new port area is shaping up to be one of the urban and tourist icons of the Vega Baja region and the Valencian Community . The combination of public-private investment, new jobs, landscape redesign, and a strengthened maritime identity places this project at the heart of the debate about the kind of city Torrevieja wants to develop in the coming years.