€115,000 Investment to Modernise Key Public Space

The Ajuntament d’Igualada will carry out a comprehensive renovation of Plaça de les Tortugues, also known as Plaça de Pompeu Fabra, this autumn, investing €115,000 to improve safety, accessibility and aesthetics in one of the city’s most used public spaces. The square, located in the Poble Sec neighbourhood and bordered by Florenci Valls, Lleida and Vilanova i la Geltrú streets, serves daily as a hub for children, families and students from nearby schools including the Institut Joan Mercader. Mayor Marc Castells stated the project was shaped by resident feedback, saying the council would invest to update a space that “offers shade and tranquillity, where we’ve all played, and which serves many pupils and families every day.”

Playground and Green Space Upgrades

The renovation will fully replace the children’s play areas, maintaining the current division between zones for younger and older children. All surfacing will be replaced with new rubber safety flooring featuring turtle-themed visual elements, preserving the square’s traditional identity linked to its original stone turtle sculptures. The greening will be upgraded in sections not previously modernised, unifying the landscaping across the entire square. Drought-resistant, low-maintenance plant species will be used to improve visibility and safety while ensuring sustainability. Additional lighting will be installed to enhance evening use and security.

  • New rubber surfacing with turtle motifs
  • Age-differentiated play zones retained
  • Low-maintenance, drought-resistant planting
  • Improved and expanded lighting

Broader Urban Improvements in the Area

Alongside the square’s renovation, improvements are planned for the west pavement of Carrer de Sant Vicenç, between Passeig and Carrer de Caputxins. This stretch is a key north-south route and heavily used by students from the Institut Joan Mercader. In another development, a private developer has obtained a construction licence to resume work on eight long-stalled housing units between Carrer dels Caputxins and Carrer de Serra Jordi. The structure has been inactive for 12 years. Completing the homes will help revitalise a degraded urban plot and add residential activity to the area. Residents can follow official updates via the Ajuntament’s urban planning portal at Actuacions PAES, Ajuntament d'Igualada.

Primary sources: igualada.cat, tramits.igualada.cat. Reported by laciutat.cat, xtec.cat, anoiadiari.cat, InfoAnoia.cat.