The Arrecife City Council has announced that the Argana Alta Sports Pavilion, closed for more than ten years, will reopen in the fall of 2024. This date was announced this morning by Francisco Lázaro Torres, director for the Canary Islands of the company Clece, concessionaire of these sports facilities.
The Argana Alta pavilion and swimming pool were operating for years without an opening license. Now, the mayor of Arrecife, Yonathan de León, together with the Councilor for Sports, Eli Merino; the engineer author of the legalization project, Alexis Betancort Cabrera; and Francisco Lázaro Torres, director for the Canary Islands of Clece - concessionaire company - held an informative meeting with the media this morning to learn about the current situation of this Pavilion, its deficiencies and damages, and the necessary works to allow its reopening and legalization. The deputy mayor and Councilor for Finance, Echedey Eugenio, was also present at this meeting.
Yonathan de León detailed all the steps taken by his government group, since last summer, after taking office as mayor of Arrecife. Some steps that were resumed with the previous procedures carried out during the previous term to enable the company Clece, awarded the management of the Arrecife Sports Palace, to start the works.
In recent weeks, the mayor had informed the contractor that the award contract would be reviewed and the company was summoned to start the works, following the agreement of the Sports Information Commission, and the approval of the Governing Board, with agreements held last week.
This morning, the director for the Canary Islands of Clece, confirmed that the scheduled works will begin at the end of this year in the project drafted by the engineer Alexis Betancort Cabrera, which will allow, with a global investment of 1.8 million euros, to execute the works for the adaptation and legalization of this pavilion, which will allow to authorize its opening license.
The engineer author of the project specified this morning to the journalists, that in addition to adaptation works of these facilities - due to the deterioration they register - it is necessary to implement new fire and evacuation measures, improve the accessibility of a part of the facilities, and adapt the evacuation areas of the stands so that they comply with the regulations, on all four sides, among other regulatory requirements.
He also detailed that the entire floor of the court will be renovated and important works will be carried out to waterproof the entire roof. The toilet areas will be restored and a toilet area for people with reduced mobility will be provided. The Pavilion has an underground parking area with a capacity of approximately 200 vehicles.
Yonathan de León closed the event detailing that now the citizens of Arrecife know the interior of this pavilion, its state of deterioration, and the severe deficiencies that must be corrected for its reopening. The mayor has stressed that one of his priorities as mayor was to achieve the reopening of this pavilion for the use and enjoyment of citizens in the largest neighborhood by number of residents in the entire municipality. In Arrecife, the demands of athletes and sports clubs are many.