Thinking Fadura: opening restricted urban green space, Getxo, Spain

Getxo is a coastal town in Basque Country, Spain. Fadura park connects dense urban district, coast, Gobela River and Bolue wetland biodiversity reserve. This is a strategic position as ecological corridor balancing accessibility with ecosystem conservation. This is a mostly affluent residential area with strong urban planning and accessibility considerations.

To increase accessibility and usage of previously restricted green spaces, promote physical activity, facilitate social cohesion, connect citizens with natural environment, and serve as green belt connecting the city while maintaining ecosystem continuity.

Costs of NbS

The Thinking Fadura project opened an 8.2 ha formerly restricted park in Getxo to the public, turning it into a green corridor through the city. Works included replanting, new walking and cycling paths, road reconstruction, new access points and fencing, and upgraded lighting and furniture. Implementation cost about EUR 2.48 million, and indirect costs from construction traffic and extra visitor emissions added about EUR 11,000. Total costs are around EUR 2.49 million over 20 years (2023 prices, 3.5% discount rate).

Potential impacts/benefits

Opening Fadura raises the park’s amenity and recreational value and encourages physical activity, with health gains measured in quality-adjusted life years. New walking and cycling paths reduce car use, saving fuel and cutting CO₂, air pollutants and noise. New trees add shade, cooling and carbon storage, and the most vulnerable groups gain access to green space they could not use before. These benefits total about EUR 3.9 million over 20 years (2023 prices).

Benefit–cost ratio

Set against total costs of EUR 2.49 million, the benefits give a BCR of 1.57, with amenity, recreation and physical activity as the largest gains.

• Demolition of perimeter fencing and installation of new access points. 
• Construction of roads on both river banks and throughout public space. 
• Path restoration and creation connecting to existing walking/biking tracks. 
• Replanting and land adequacy/restoration. 
• Installation of new furniture and outdoor lighting.
• Opening multi-purpose sports facilities for public access via one-day tickets. 
• Stakeholder engagement through workshops, visitor counting, iSOPARC physical activity assessment and citizen surveys.

INHERIT project consortium (https://www.inherit.eu)

Study overview

The Thinking Fadura project in Getxo, Basque Country (Spain) transformed previously restricted green spaces of the Fadura Municipal Sports Centre into public urban parks. The initiative resulted from a 2017 participatory design methodology where community members proposed opening the green spaces to the general public, ending exclusive access for registered sports club members only.

The Fadura facility spans approximately 20 hectares along the Gobela River, with 8.2 hectares designated as new public park. At the time of economic assessment in 2018, around 5 hectares were accessible to the public while remaining areas underwent construction expected to take three more years. Getxo had 77,946 inhabitants in 2019, making it the third-largest municipality in Biscay province.

The project combined nature-based solutions with sporting facilities to foster physical activity alongside green space access. Public works included planting trees, creating crossing paths connected to existing walking and biking tracks, opening multipurpose sports facilities for one-day ticket access, and creating leisure areas to promote social interaction.

A Participatory Benefit-Cost Analysis (PBCA) evaluated economic impacts over 20 years with a 3.5% social discount rate. The approach integrated stakeholder workshops (20 participants), visitor surveys (256 respondents), and general public surveys (250 citizens) to identify costs, benefits and social perceptions.

Results showed benefits outweighed costs with a Net Present Value of €1.12 million and Benefit-Cost Ratio of 1.57–1.63. Internal Rate of Return reached 11.7% with payback period of 10.6 years. Highest benefits stemmed from amenity and recreational value (€2.48 million) and physical activity health benefits (€597,033). Environmental benefits included reduced CO2 emissions, air pollutants and noise through decreased car use.

The triple win objective was achieved: environmental benefits through emissions reduction, health improvements through increased physical activity, and social equity through improved access for vulnerable groups. Sensitivity analysis confirmed feasibility in 52 of 54 scenarios tested.