The renovated Calle de La Rosa in El Toscal will be getting a proper workout this Saturday, 12 September, as Santa Cruz hosts “Vive La Rosa”, a morning of activities designed to get residents out, support local businesses and make the most of the newly improved street.
Running from 10:00 to 14:00, the event will include activities for children and families, sport, music, dancing, entertainment for younger residents and plenty of opportunities to explore the local businesses.
The idea is fairly simple. The street has been renovated, so now it’s time for people to actually use it.
Something happening along the whole street
The activities will be spread across different sections of Calle de La Rosa rather than being concentrated in one spot.
Between La Luna and Santa Rosalía, there will be a photocall and a commercial roulette.
The section between Santa Rosalía and Santa Clara will feature musical performances and more activities connected with local businesses.
Between Santa Clara and San Francisco Javier, things get rather more lively for younger visitors, with games, face painting and inflatables.
From 11:00 to 12:00, the junction with San Francisco Javier will host dance performances and a masterclass from the Escuela de Flamenco Genaro Arteaga and Wonder Dance Center.
Sport, games and a bit of everything
The stretch between San Francisco Javier and number 43 Calle de La Rosa will be given over to sport, with activities including hockey, pickleball and mini golf.
The Santa Cruz Entrena mobile unit will also be there.
Further along, between number 43 and San Martín, the focus shifts towards younger people, with “Vive La Rosa” tote bag workshops, role-playing games, wellbeing and beauty activities, a photography exhibition created by young people and various gamer activities.
There will also be live music between El Saludo and San Isidro, making sure the event isn’t confined to one small section of the neighbourhood.
A bit of life after the building works
The event is part of the council’s wider attempt to put more activity into Santa Cruz’s neighbourhoods and make better use of renovated public spaces.
And that’s probably the important bit.
Renovating a street is one thing. Getting people to actually spend time there afterwards is another.
The council’s message is that the work doesn’t finish when the barriers come down. The next step is getting families, children, young people, older residents and local businesses to make the space their own.
Traffic changes
There will be some disruption, so anyone heading to El Toscal should be aware of the road closures.
From 17:00 on Friday 11 September, traffic will be closed along Calle de La Rosa between San Martín and La Luna to allow the event to be set up.
The junctions at San Francisco Javier, San Vicente Ferrer and Santa Rosalía will remain open to traffic.
Access to garages will be maintained on Santa Clara and San Antonio, although only between La Rosa and Santiago.
On Saturday 12 September, Calle de La Rosa will remain closed between San Martín and La Luna from 07:00 to 17:00. Garage access will be maintained on the affected sections of Santa Rosalía, Santa Clara, San Vicente Ferrer and San Francisco Javier.
Parking will also be prohibited from 17:00 on Friday until 17:00 on Saturday along Calle de La Rosa between San Martín and La Luna, as well as on the affected section of San Antonio between La Rosa and Santiago.
Bus changes
The 914 bus route will also be affected from 17:00 on Friday until 17:00 on Saturday.
The service will divert from Rambla de Santa Cruz towards the Numancia kiosk, continuing via Avenida Veinticinco de Julio, Calle de Numancia, Avenida Méndez Núñez and Calle del Pilar before returning to its normal route.
The Almeida, La Rosa and La Luna stops will be cancelled temporarily.
The alternative stop for Almeida will be on Rambla de Santa Cruz, while passengers using La Rosa and La Luna should use Plaza del Príncipe instead.
So, if you’re heading to El Toscal this weekend, it might be worth leaving the car at home.
The street is being closed for a reason.