Santa Cruz Unveils Major €7.4M Sports & Health Plan

The Santa Cruz de Tenerife City Council has announced a major plan to boost physical activity and public health in the city. The municipal Sports Department aims to provide new and improved sports facilities, especially outdoors, and offer more activities. This initiative has a budget of 7.4 million euros for the 2026 financial year.

While the budget for next year is nearly 1.2 million euros less than in 2025, local councilor Alicia Cebrián explained that this change is due to funds from the previous year being moved to projects that are either already underway or will start this year.

Several projects are expected to be ready before summer. The skate park on Avenida Marítima, opposite the Tax Agency, will reopen. This space was removed for earlier work but will now get new ramps and obstacles, costing 27,800 euros. Also, the Taganana sports center will be available after a comprehensive 641,000-euro renovation, which includes new changing rooms, court, equipment, and a retaining wall. A third key project is the opening of the Miguel Pintor school swimming pool in La Alegría to the public. This 600,000-euro investment covered renovating the pool deck, the pool itself, the climate control system, and building new changing rooms. Once finished, the public and swimming clubs can use it in the afternoons, with a separate entrance from the courts to avoid disturbing school activities.

This year's investment plan also includes starting work on a new Pumptrack in Los Gladiolos, a project already put out to tender with a budget of 1.5 million euros. For swimming pools, three significant projects are planned: completing the 250,000-euro renovation of the Las Retamas swimming pool (at the Altafit gym), which involves new filtering machinery, water pumps, pool construction, and roof repair; continuing the major renovation of the Acidalio Lorenzo swimming pool, costing 200,000 euros, to demolish a deteriorated grandstand and improve accessibility; and the previously mentioned renovation of the Miguel Pintor school swimming pool.

Additionally, 59,400 euros will be allocated to improve the Dácil Cabrera sports complex, and 170,000 euros will go to the Las Delicias complex for a side enclosure for its basketball court. Projects started last year will also be completed. These include renovating the bathrooms at the San Joaquín football field, improving accessibility at Pancho Suárez, updating the Ana Bautista pavilion with new parquet flooring, hot water, and lighting, and finishing the Quico Cabrera changing rooms, which will also serve Paco Álvarez.

Alongside these facility upgrades, the municipal Sports Department will spend 4.2 million euros to promote physical and sports activities through its "Santa Cruz Entrena" program. This program already offers swimming courses, pilates, beach sports, dancing, functional training, and skateboarding. This year, it will expand to include adapted surfing for people with disabilities at Las Teresitas and a breakdance course. These initiatives are complemented by promoting sea-related activities, once the new Cidemat is ready, and increasing aid for municipal clubs and local athletes.