With the inclusion of La Viña, the City Council has expanded its municipal parking network by adding 2,300 parking spaces, following the takeover of the concession. La Viña, previously under private ownership through a municipal concession granted in 2005, has now joined the public parking network of the City Council after the concession rescue. This brings the total number of parking spaces to 2,300, where visitors can park for just 1 euro during the day and 2 euros at night. Estepona now offers one of the most affordable options for secure parking in the country. The decision to rescue the concession for La Viña has led to a significant decrease in parking costs, dropping from 2.40 euros per hour to only 1 euro for the entire day. For 24-hour parking, the rate is now 3 euros, a substantial reduction from the previous 17 euros charged by the private operator. Mayor José María García Urbano has emphasized the Council’s commitment to exploring methods for reclaiming parking spaces from existing concessions to provide additional parking facilities for the growing population of Estepona. Efforts are underway to expand the existing network of 2,300 parking spaces at the 1 euro rate by constructing two new parking lots, adding over 600 spaces in total. These new facilities will be located near the Church of Carmen and along the Parque Central boulevard. Plans are also in place for another parking area in the La Lobilla area, with the project currently in the drafting stage. The municipal parking initiative has created employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, with 37 contracts formalized through a partnership with the Aprona Association, benefiting both men and women with diverse abilities.
New public parking facility commences operations at a rate of 1 euro per day