A campaign on Change.org led by a resident of Son Ferriol has gathered nearly 700 supporters to demand a public gym in the neighbourhood. The Palma City Council has already held a meeting and is considering locating it at the Marga Crespí sports centre.
Son Ferriol, one of the most populated neighbourhoods in Palma, lacks a municipal gym. The residents' demand, led by Xisco García, has managed to gather almost 700 signatures on Change.org under the slogan 'Demand a municipal gym for Son Ferriol now'. The petition aims for residents to be able to exercise without having to travel to other areas of the city.
The Palma City Council is assessing feasibility
García met on July 1 with representatives from the Palma City Council. In the meeting, municipal technicians committed to analysing whether the gym can fit into the Marga Crespí Sports Centre, which currently only has a swimming pool. Another option would be to expand the facilities or create an adjacent space. “They have acknowledged the problem and now they need to find a solution. There is still no yes or no, we are waiting for a response. They have treated us well,” García explains.
The Son Ferriol neighbourhood, located on the outskirts of Palma, has seen its population grow in recent years. However, the public sports offer is limited to the municipal swimming pool. Residents who want to use weight machines or attend fitness classes must pay private fees of around 70 euros per month per person, plus travel costs. “Not everyone or every family can afford it,” laments the campaign promoter.
Sport as an investment in health
For García, the lack of a public gym is not just a matter of leisure, but of public health. “You spend on one side, but you save on the other because this is health,” he argues. Physical exercise prevents diseases, improves mood, and allows for a better quality of life as one ages. In Son Ferriol, many primary care doctors refer elderly patients to municipal exercise programmes to improve mobility and strength, but there is no space to carry them out. “There are elderly people who have to drive or depend on a family member to do an activity that is precisely designed to improve their health,” García denounces.
The campaign also highlights that the gym would benefit over 15,000 residents of Son Ferriol and nearby areas such as Sant Jordi, s'Aranjassa, Casa Blanca, Son Gual, or Es Pil·larí. A population that, according to the promoters, far exceeds the census data. Additionally, it would help promote healthy habits among young people and complement the current sports offer, which is limited to the swimming pool.
A problem of territorial equity
Son Ferriol is not the only neighbourhood in Palma lacking covered sports facilities. However, its peripheral situation exacerbates the problem. While central neighbourhoods like Son Cotoner or El Terreno have municipal sports centres with gyms, residents of Son Ferriol must travel several kilometres to access them. “We are not asking for a luxury, we are asking for the same as other neighbourhoods in Palma already have,” García emphasises.
The petition has sparked a debate about the distribution of sports facilities in the city. The Palma City Council, through the Municipal Sports Institute (IME), manages a network of sports centres, but the demand in expanding areas like Son Ferriol is growing faster than the supply. The Sports Department has confirmed that it will study the proposal and provide a response in the coming months.
Meanwhile, the signature campaign remains open. García hopes that the community pressure and the support of the nearly 700 current signatories will prompt the City Council to expedite the process. “We hope to have concrete news before the end of the year,” he concludes.
You may also like
