Figueres opens 25-space green zone car park in Poble Nou
Figueres City Council has opened a new neighbourhood car park in Poble Nou, adding 25 parking spaces in one of the town's residential districts.
The car park sits on the Via Emporitana site, opposite the Spar supermarket and on the corner with Tallaferro. The council did not build a new facility. It adapted the existing Via Emporitana car park for the new system.
The opening comes just before a wider change in the same neighbourhood. From Thursday 1 October, Poble Nou will move to a green area parking system, which gives residents priority.
How the new car park works
The 25 spaces are part of the green area. In Catalan towns, the green zone ("area verda") is a regulated parking scheme that gives priority to people who live in the neighbourhood. It works alongside the more familiar blue zone ("zona blava"), the general paid parking found in town centres.
Priority does not mean the car park is closed to everyone else. Non-residents can still use the Via Emporitana spaces, and they pay the same rates as in the blue zone.
The first 15 minutes are free. After that, parking costs €1.20 per hour.
There are also long periods when parking is free for everyone. From Monday to Saturday, no charge applies between 9pm and 9am. On Sundays and public holidays, parking is free.
For visitors this means a quick stop at the supermarket or a short errand in the area can cost nothing. It also means the car park can be used without payment in the evening and overnight.
Green area arrives across Poble Nou
The car park is one part of a larger change. The council will start rolling out the green area for residents across the whole Poble Nou neighbourhood on Thursday 1 October.
The system did not arrive without warning. A trial period ran from 15 to 30 September. The council used those two weeks to test how the scheme worked, inform the public and give drivers time to adjust.
That trial period is now ending. From 1 October, the relevant fees will be charged, both to local residents and to visitors who park in the zone.
The council has not published the resident fees in the information released with the announcement. People who live in Poble Nou and have questions about permits or charges should contact Figueres City Council directly.
Who is affected
The change matters most to three groups.
The first is Poble Nou residents. The green area is designed to make it easier for them to find a space near home, as parking regulation spreads across more parts of the town.
The second is people who drive into the neighbourhood from elsewhere. This includes shoppers, workers and anyone visiting friends or family. They can still park, but will now pay blue zone rates during charging hours.
The third is visitors from the wider Alt Emporda, including drivers from Empuriabrava and Castello d'Empuries who come into Figueres for shopping or appointments. For them, the key details are the 15 free minutes, the €1.20 hourly rate and the free parking at night, on Sundays and on holidays.
Drivers heading to Figueres regularly will also want to note other recent traffic measures in the town. These include the number plate cameras at the town entrances.
Practical points for drivers
- Location: Via Emporitana car park, opposite the Spar supermarket, on the corner with Tallaferro, in Poble Nou
- Spaces: 25
- Type: green area, with priority for residents
- Non-residents: allowed, at blue zone prices
- Price: first 15 minutes free, then €1.20 per hour
- Free parking: 9pm to 9am from Monday to Saturday, and all day on Sundays and public holidays
- Neighbourhood green area: fees charged from Thursday 1 October, after a trial between 15 and 30 September
Our Take
This is a small project in size, with only 25 spaces. But it points to a clear direction in how Figueres manages parking. The town is moving towards regulated zones that give residents priority, while still letting outsiders park at a price.
The approach seems designed to balance two needs. Residents want a space near home. Local shops, such as the supermarket next to the car park, benefit from drivers being able to stop for a short time. The 15 free minutes appear to serve that second purpose.
The trial period is also worth noting. A two-week period for testing and information suggests the council wanted to avoid a sudden switch that caught drivers off guard. Whether it was long enough will become clearer once fees begin.
The measure fits a wider pattern of changes to how people move around Figueres. That includes the castle shuttle bus and upcoming works on carrer Balmes in Els Pins.
It is worth watching how Poble Nou residents respond once charges start on 1 October. It will also be interesting to see whether demand for the new spaces is strong enough to encourage similar conversions elsewhere in Figueres. Readers who drive into the town from the coast may want to check the parking rules before each trip, as they may change further.