Jaén’s €8.6 Million Unopened Water Park and Aquarama’s 40‑Year Celebration in Spain

The municipality of Jaén invested €8.6 million in a water‑park project launched in 2009 under the national stimulus plan of former Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. Promoted by then‑mayor Carmen Peñalver, the "playa" was intended to create jobs and boost local construction, but the facility never opened and remains an imagined attraction. Residents recall the initial optimism, with one neighbour saying, "Recibimos el anuncio con mucha alegría, y con ilusión…".

In contrast, Aquarama in Benicàssim, a long‑standing water‑park in the Valencian Community, celebrated its 40th anniversary. The park introduced a new visual identity, a children’s area called Chiquilandia, and expanded its food offering with a burger‑focused restaurant, a Mediterranean‑style tavern, and a take‑away waffle stand featuring new toppings. The anniversary campaign invites families to enjoy a refreshed summer experience.