As the residents said, there's still a lot to do, certainly. But the new Plaça de les Glòries has finally been inaugurated. This is great news, because it had been under construction for so many years, its future was under discussion for so many years, this central hub of Barcelona was underused by the public for so many years that it seemed we'd never see it again. Now, this spring, what can now be considered Barcelona's new central park will be put to the test, and it's time for tweaks, criticism, and also praise. What is certain is that people will use it intensively, because if there's one thing lacking in the Catalan capital, it's parks and recreational spaces. There's a lack of greenery throughout the city, and the Ciutadella is already stretched thin. Therefore, although there's still a lot of vegetation to grow in Plaça de les Glòries, and this may frustrate expectations somewhat, there's no doubt that it's a space large enough and varied enough to facilitate the enjoyment of the public.
The Plaça de les Glòries Catalanes—its official name, in reference to glories such as Modernisme and Catalan law—was the place where Ildefons Cerdà had imagined the center of Barcelona in his Eixample plan. The city's three main avenues, the Meridiana, the Gran Via, and the Diagonal, converge there. It was envisaged, as is already happening somewhat, that the growth of the city would eventually place the new center in that area. But the truth is that throughout the 20th century, Glòries has been something of a black hole, a major road and rail hub that acted as a barrier between neighborhoods and simulated, less well than well, that it was also partially a square or a park. However, few people took advantage of it, especially in its penultimate phase, when, after the Olympic renovation, inside the main road, which was also a parking lot, there was a small park with the monoliths dedicated to those glories.
There was much talk about the renovation of the Glòries and the various proposals. In 2003, it was agreed to begin the transformation, and in 2007, a document was signed, entitled Compromís de Glòries, in which Barcelona City Council, then in the hands of the Socialist Jordi Hereu, and the area's neighborhood associations agreed on what the renovation would look like. It has been more than two decades of conversations, changes, controversies, and also tweaks, because all the new councils—in the hands of the Convergents, the Commons, and nine Socialists—have had their say. 640 million euros later, it's over. And we must remember that what is important and costly is what cannot be seen. The current appearance of the square and park will surely change over time, but the important thing, the great work that has been done and that will remain for many years to come, is what lies underground: the road tunnel in and out of Barcelona and the difficult and complex connection with the train and metro lines that also pass underneath.
The northern part of the square and park still needs to be developed, and the promised facilities and housing are still missing. We will have to be vigilant, and it is understandable that the residents will insist on demanding what was promised. But the main part is complete, and after many years, Barcelona can open a new urban space of metropolitan interest.
