Cartagena secures €14.8M EU funding to integrate San Antón and San Félix

The City of Cartagena has obtained European approval for the Integrated Action Plan Re-Crea, enabling an investment of €14,786,683 to modernise and integrate the San Antón neighbourhood and its surroundings through 2029. Mayor Noelia Arroyo highlighted the role of the municipal European projects office in securing the grant.

The programme covers a belt of nine neighbourhoods: San Antón, Urbanización Mediterráneo, Media Sala, Ciudad Jardín, Barriada Cuatro Santos, Los Barreros, Barrio Peral, Vereda de San Félix and José María de la Puerta. A central measure is transforming Pedro Díaz street into a spine that will extend the Vía Verde and link districts with a new footbridge to Los Dolores.

The comprehensive remodelling of the Alameda de San Antón is a flagship intervention; the council has announced participatory processes so residents can help choose design options to increase pedestrian space, shade and accessibility.

The plan also includes upgrades to sports and cultural facilities, such as the San Antón football pitch, converting the former health centre into a hub for social and healthcare associations, and the energy and aesthetic rehabilitation of 14 municipal buildings. New public meeting areas and green spaces — conceived as "islands of colour" — will be created alongside local cultural initiatives.

On the technology front, the project foresees the deployment of high-speed networks, environmental sensors and digital twins to test public service solutions, together with electric vehicle charging points and new digital payment systems for transport to balance motor traffic with pedestrian and cycle mobility.

The initial proposal approached €20 million; Brussels has awarded €8,872,010 (60% of the eligible budget) and the city will finance the remainder to reach the €14.8 million total, marking the largest grant to a municipality in the Region of Murcia under this call. A phase of adjustments to the approved sum begins now, followed by a final resolution and the start of works.