Ordino Launches €500K Ideas Contest to Redesign Prat de la Call Playground

Ordino parish council has increased its budget for redesigning the Prat de la Call playground and sports area to €550,000, incorporating €50,000 from a citizen participation process, with works aimed at completion by summer 2027.

The 1,157-square-metre facility, which opened in 2008 and was last renovated in 2013, will replace outdated equipment to improve safety and accessibility. Proposals must address demands from 276 survey responses collected last spring, including more shade, covered spaces, new play options for various ages, better access for children with disabilities, safer entry points, reduced slopes, age-specific zones, expanded games like zip lines, trampolines and sensory activities, additional benches and picnic areas, and integration as a family meeting spot. The design should reflect Ordino's mountainous setting, emphasise sustainability, ensure universal access without segregated areas for reduced mobility, retain the 2018 wind-powered energy tree, and respect the overall budget.

Councillor for Citizen Participation Meritxell Rabadà noted that the initial €50,000 from participatory funds would have supported only a minor intervention, prompting the council to expand to a full overhaul. Cònsol Major Maria del Mar Coma highlighted persistent calls for shade, saying summer heat currently makes the space unusable without protection, and stressed the need for covered areas to extend winter use. She added that accessibility standards have evolved since 2013, requiring inclusive play integration rather than separate zones.

Andorran architects and firms can submit entries by 19 November, following a 30-day call period. A jury including communal councillors from majority and minority, technicians, and directors from the parish's French and Andorran primary schools will choose winners. Prizes total €11,000: €6,000 for first, €3,000 for second and €2,000 for third. The top team could lead implementation, with selection targeted by year-end. Planners intend to retain some existing structures, adapting layout and topography while allowing professionals flexibility.