Castillo Street in Santa Cruz to be shaded with awnings in 2027

In 2027, Castillo Street in Santa Cruz will undergo a major renovation. The city authorities want to make it more comfortable by installing awnings to create shade. They will be attached to buildings on both sides of the street.

Initially, it was planned to do this this summer, but it was decided to wait in order to add more greenery and update the street surface.

Carlos Tarife, the first deputy mayor, explained that the city's historical heritage allows the installation of awnings, as Castillo Street is part of the historical center, which is a cultural monument.

According to him, at the first stage, awnings will appear on a part of Castillo Street and on Valentin Sanz Street – approximately 150 meters on each side. "We are already finalizing the project, and I think next year we will be able to announce a tender for the execution of the works."

He also added that it is important to add greenery to Castillo Street, as there are almost no places where you can sit outside in the shade.

Tarife emphasized that creating shade is an important part of every new project in the city. For example, this was done on Costa and Grijalba Streets, Pio Baroja and Ofri Streets, where many trees were planted.

So, the city council plans to change Castillo Street by installing awnings, planting trees, and laying new asphalt. "We want to allocate money to renovate the surface of this pedestrian street, because the tiles there are slippery and worn. We could start this reform in 2027, and we plan to complete the project next year."

The idea of creating shade on Castillo Street is called "Donkey's Belly". It was developed by architect Alejandro Botello three years ago. It involves the installation of nets of triangular modules that are stretched on cables attached to buildings and metal poles. These nets can be easily removed if needed.