The debate on the closure of historic parks such as El Retiro during heat waves is still alive in Madrid. The City Council maintains in force the protocol that forces the closure of these spaces when certain temperature and wind thresholds are exceeded, but does not rule out introducing changes in the future, although with nuances and under certain conditions.
Currently, the protocol is activated when the AEMET forecasts temperatures above 35ºC and wind gusts above 55 km/h, which implies the total closure of emblematic parks and restrictions in other green spaces. This measure, introduced during Manuela Carmena’s mandate after several serious accidents due to falling branches, seeks to ensure the safety of visitors, since 80% of the incidents occur precisely during the 1% of the time when red alerts are applied.
However, neighborhood pressure and criticism from experts and associations have led the Consistory to recognize the need to review the protocol.
Debate on the closure of parks in the Carabanchel Tree Committee
In June, the Mesa del Arbol de Carabanchel held a key meeting to address the controversial protocol for closing parks in Madrid during episodes of heat and wind. The meeting was attended by representatives of the City Council, political groups, neighborhood associations and environmental groups. The debate revolved around the need to review the current protocol, which forces the closure of historic parks such as El Retiro and eight other large green spaces when certain meteorological thresholds are exceeded.
During the session, the opposition (Más Madrid and PSOE) proposed alternatives such as identifying and marking the areas of greatest risk in El Retiro to avoid total closure, as well as the possibility of establishing individualized protocols for each park. They also demanded greater transparency and access to the technical reports that justify the closures, with the aim of elaborating well-founded and consensual proposals.
The delegate of Urbanism and Environment, Borja Carabante, defended the validity of the current protocol for safety reasons, arguing that most incidents with falling branches occur precisely during the alert episodes. However, he was open to revising the system in the future, as long as there is political consensus and the necessary technical guarantees are maintained. For now, the City Council does not foresee immediate changes, but has promised to share incident data and study possible updates.
The City Council insists that the priority is safety, but admits that the protocol could be adapted to make citizen protection compatible with access to the parks, especially when they function as essential climatic refuges in the city. For now, the review is planned for the coming months, with no immediate changes for this summer, and always subject to technical reports and the evolution of the weather situation.
