Mercan Properties Group and Porto City Partner on a New Urban Green Park

Source: The Portugal News

This December, the city of Porto gained a new city-park spanning of 17,000 square meters of green space – the Urban Park of Lapa, now renamed Urban Park Mário Soares in honor of a key figure in Portuguese democracy. This project was made possible through a public-private partnership between the Mercan Properties Group and the Porto City Council. Mercan Properties Group initiated the development of Urban Park Mário Soares during the construction of the acclaimed Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel., allocating 14,500 square meters of land to the Porto City Council as part of this project.

This is a significant contribution, combined with a direct investment of around three million euros, complemented by a further one million euros already invested in improving the surrounding streets in the Lapa area. A transformation that reinforces the Mercan Group's commitment to strengthening urban sustainability and promoting the well-being of the community, in an area previously dubbed a “black hole”.

This project represents a shared vision of sustainability and progress - brought to life through the dedication and cooperation of our investors, who donated the land for its creation. Their support reflects a commitment to enhancing the City of Porto's future while fostering a stronger, greener community.

In the inauguration ceremony, the President of Mercan Properties' Group, Jordi Vilanova, received the President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and the Mayor of Porto Rui Moreira, in a ceremony that honored the former President Mário Soares, who was instrumental in Portugal's democracy and EU membership.

The Renaissance Porto Lapa Hotel, opened in April 2023, quickly gained recognition. In 2024, it won the World Luxury Hotel Awards and achieved LEED Platinum certification for sustainability, the first Portuguese hotel to do so. It also received a Silver Award at the 2024 International Design Awards. An expansion of the hotel is planned for 2025.

This park and urban renewal project, reflect Mercan Properties Group’s commitment to sustainability, fostering a sense of community, and the preservation for cultural heritage, serving as an inspiring model for future partnerships to improve urban living.

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