The Town Hall of Sóller has unveiled the comprehensive renovation project for the Infante Lois sports complex, located in Port de Sóller, with a budget of €13 million. However, the council admits that it does not have funding to execute it and is relying on external aid.
The Town Hall of Sóller presented this Wednesday the ambitious project for the comprehensive reform of the Infante Lois sports and recreational complex, located in Port de Sóller. The initiative, with a budget of €13 million, will completely transform the 18,500 square meters of the space, but the council has acknowledged that, for now, there is no money to carry it out.
The mayor, Miquel Nadal, explained that the project has been drafted thanks to a grant from the Sustainable Tourism Tax, but that the necessary investment exceeds the current capacity of the municipal coffers. "We hope to obtain funding from other administrations," Nadal pointed out, without specifying deadlines or a timeline for the start of the works.
An ambitious design for Port de Sóller
The project, signed by architects Joaquín Mosquera and María Syra Abella, winners of the ideas competition called by the Town Hall, envisions a radical transformation of the complex. An underground parking lot for 250 vehicles will be built, a long-standing demand from residents and visitors of the Port.
On the surface, the plan includes a 700 square meter building that will house a bar, a multipurpose room, a library, changing rooms, and offices. The current football field will be replaced by four multi-sport courts, surrounded by a 300-meter athletics track. Additionally, an extra multipurpose court, four petanque courts, two beach volleyball courts, landscaped areas, rest areas, and a children's park will be established.
The perimeter of the complex will feature an 800-meter pedestrian pathway, connecting the different areas and improving accessibility. "This is an opportunity to modernise the main sports facility in the Port," Nadal highlighted, although he admitted that "the investment is very high and we need help."
Residents await a key reform
For the residents of Port de Sóller, the reform of Infante Lois is a long-standing demand. The complex, dating back to the 1970s, shows evident signs of deterioration and lacks facilities adapted to current needs. The lack of parking in the area is one of the main problems, especially during peak season when the Port fills with tourists.
With the new project, residents could have 250 underground parking spaces, which would relieve pressure on the surrounding streets. Furthermore, the new sports courts and the children's park would provide leisure alternatives for all ages. "It's exciting news, but as long as there is no funding, it will remain just a piece of paper," laments a spokesperson for the residents' association of the Port.
The Town Hall hopes that the Balearic Government and the Mallorca Council will provide funds for the work, although there are no concrete commitments. For now, the project remains up in the air, awaiting a response from higher administrations.
An ideas competition that has already borne fruit
The presented project is the result of an ideas competition called by the Town Hall in 2025, to which several proposals were submitted. The chosen one, by Mosquera and Abella, stood out for its integrative approach and commitment to sustainability. The grant from the Sustainable Tourism Tax allowed for the drafting of the project, but execution will require a much larger investment.
"We have taken the first step, but there is still a long way to go," Nadal acknowledged. The mayor insisted that the project is "viable and necessary" and called on administrations to "get involved in an initiative that will benefit the entire municipality."
Meanwhile, the residents of Port de Sóller will continue to use outdated facilities, awaiting the day when the reform of Infante Lois moves from paper to reality. The Town Hall has committed to keeping the public informed of progress in the search for funding.
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