Mostly sitting around, petanca, dog walking and kids playing, probably busiest by the pool in the afternoon in season and on the playground late in the evening in summer.
Dog walkingthe lake and open lawns at the centre of Parc de Benicalap
Out of pool season the whole park flips: the water end is shut and locked and the centre becomes dog territory, the same faces circling the lake twice a day and standing around talking while the dogs sort themselves out. It's a neighbourhood park doing neighbourhood things, not a destination.
dog ownerslocalsearly morningeveningautumnwinterspring
Not yet confirmed by anyone standing here
Do people walk dogs here?
We check you're nearby so confirmations stay honest.
Kids playingthe playground and paved plaza at Parc de Benicalap
In July and August this fills up after dinner and stays full until nearly midnight, kids on scooters and parents standing in the dark with the pushchairs — precisely because the gated parks across town have already shut. Summer here doesn't really start until the sun is off the paving.
familieslocalsnightsummer
ice creams from the shops on the avenue on the walk over
Not yet confirmed by anyone standing here
Do kids play here?
We check you're nearby so confirmations stay honest.
Sitting and talkingthe grass and fence line outside the municipal pool at Parc de Benicalap
Once the pool opens for the season the strip of park outside its fence becomes a waiting room — towels over shoulders, families camped on the grass until someone comes out and a space frees up. In the heat of the afternoon this is the busiest twenty metres of the park by a long way.
familieslocalsmiddayafternoonsummer
bags of ice and drinks from the supermarket on the way in
Not yet confirmed by anyone standing here
Do people sit and talk here?
We check you're nearby so confirmations stay honest.
Informal sportthe petanca courts at the edge of Parc de Benicalap
Late afternoon there's a standing game here with the same regulars from the blocks around, and a ring of men watching who never actually play. Nobody organises it — you turn up when the sun comes off the courts and it's already going.
localslate afternooneveningweekdaysweekend
Not yet confirmed by anyone standing here
Do people play informal sport here?
We check you're nearby so confirmations stay honest.
