The old Chamberí golf course remains abandoned in Madrid
In the heart of the Chamberí district in Madrid, a public plot with considerable real estate and social value lies forgotten. It is the facilities of a municipal golf course that ceased its activity, with the official promise to transform the area into a large park for residents. That promise today is a fenced and degraded space, a symbol of projects that do not come to fruition 🏌️♂️➡️🚧.
A green project stuck in bureaucracy
The plan to redevelop the area has been stalled for years. After the closure, an initiative was presented that proposed creating extensive green areas, sports courts, and recreation areas. However, a tangle of administrative procedures and changes in investment priorities have postponed the start of works indefinitely. Meanwhile, this central and well-connected plot accumulates waste and its vegetation grows wildly.
Consequences of the stagnation:- Neighbors perceive how a valuable community resource deteriorates progressively without intervention.
- The plot, in a privileged location, provides no benefit to the quality of life in the neighborhood.
- The administration's inaction consolidates a state of semi-abandonment and generates citizen frustration.
The ghost course has become an involuntary symbol of how to manage a public project: promise, close, and then wait.
Neighborhood pressure in the face of an uncertain future
The lack of a firm decision and an executable timeline keeps the area in limbo. Some neighborhood associations insist on reactivating the original park project, while other agents evaluate alternative uses. This prolonged indecision has a high opportunity cost, as it deprives the district of equipment that could optimize public space.
Possible paths forward:- The competent administration must define a viable solution and allocate resources to implement it.
- It is necessary to channel citizen participation to prioritize the neighborhood's real needs.
- Giving the plot a concrete utility is urgent to reverse its degradation and fulfill the community.
Recovering the public requires action, not just promises
The situation of the old Chamberí golf course exemplifies a recurring problem: the gap between planning and doing. Recovering this space for everyone requires overcoming paralysis and taking action. The administration has the responsibility to manage public heritage effectively, transforming forgotten plots into areas that truly improve the city. The clock keeps ticking while nature reclaims a hole no one plays ⏳.