I'm Mallorcan, from Palma specifically, and I currently live here. Although I spent ten years living in Paris, a period that affected me enormously. I've also been lucky enough to travel quite a bit and get to know other cities and other ways of doing things.

I'm a nurse by profession — and by vocation, I'd say — and I've been a mother for a couple of years. I think those three things together — having lived abroad, my profession, and motherhood — have greatly changed the way I look at my surroundings, especially public spaces.

It was a gradual process. When my daughter was about eight months old, we started going to playgrounds. At that age they don't walk yet — they crawl, touch everything, and put it all in their mouths. That's when I really started paying attention to the condition of the surfaces and structures.

I could see the worn-out paving, that rubber flooring that breaks down and sheds particles, and I thought my daughter could end up putting it in her mouth. The swings were often dirty and poorly maintained. As a first-time mother you're hyper-aware of everything: that she doesn't hurt herself, that she doesn't touch something dangerous.

It was also summer, and almost no playground had adequate shade. No fencing, with dirt, dog droppings, rubbish… it was very hard to find a place where I could be at ease with her. It wasn't one specific park; I tried different ones and the feeling was that the problem was widespread. That's when I decided something had to be done.

Parcs de Palma was born largely out of anger, to be honest. From seeing the general neglect of Palma's playgrounds and feeling it was a completely overlooked issue.

My intention was to call it out and make that reality visible, and also to put a little pressure on Palma City Council to take notice. I didn't do it thinking it would have much impact — more as a way to channel that frustration.

But over time I've seen that I'm not the only one who feels this way. There are many fathers and mothers who think the same and who want well-kept public spaces for our children. My goal isn't anything extraordinary: simply that playgrounds are minimally decent, safe, clean, and designed with families in mind.

Right now the account is focused on Palma. Most of the parks I post about I've visited personally, because I like to see their real condition and share it from my own experience.

It's also true that many parents send me photos of parks, and in some cases I've shared them even though I haven't been there myself, because the account also works as a collective megaphone.

Expanding to the whole island would be interesting, but realistically I don't have the bandwidth to cover everything. Between work, my daughter, and the time it takes to manage the account, Palma is already quite a commitment. Besides, my main point of contact is Palma City Council, so it makes sense to keep the focus there.

I think it's a combination of lack of budget and lack of priority. When something isn't considered truly important, it doesn't receive the resources or attention it needs, and that ends up showing in the result.

I also think there's not enough listening to families. Sometimes it feels like fairly standard projects are built without much consideration for how the park is actually used or what the needs of daily users are. And when the basic design isn't well thought out, maintenance alone doesn't really solve the problem.

‍

What bothers me most about playgrounds is the lack of civic responsibility and oversight, which ends up directly affecting the cleanliness and safety of the space. Often there are people sleeping, urinating, drinking alcohol, or leaving their dog’s droppings, and there is no enforcement whatsoever to sanction these behaviours. This creates a sense of neglect and causes dirt to build up on the play structures, which are rarely properly cleaned from the inside — relying only on rain to do the job.

Another significant problem is the lack of safety and proper enclosure: many parks aren't fenced, or have only a simple gate that might buy time if a child tries to get out, but in general all of Palma's playgrounds are open, with traffic nearby or not.

On top of that, there's the lack of shade — something fundamental in Mallorca, where the sun and heat are intense for most of the year. There are neither natural shade sources nor artificial structures to protect from the sun. And lastly, the ground materials could be more organic and natural, offering greater safety and comfort for children at play.

Yes, I've received a lot of positive feedback, especially through the Instagram account I manage. Moms and dads appreciate that someone is calling out the shortcomings and problems with the parks, because many of them don't have the time or motivation to file formal complaints. They also value that some improvements have come about as a result of these reports: resurfacing, repainting deteriorated structures, or even the opening of a new park.

As for the parks infrastructure department, they have never contacted me directly, although they seem to be aware of the Instagram account and the reports published there. Despite some interventions, many parks remain just as neglected, and improvements tend to be one-off rather than part of a sustained strategy.

‍

My favourite park is the one at Bellver Castle. I like it because it combines safety, shade, and a variety of play equipment, and it has separate areas by age group, which allows the youngest children to play safely without being at risk from older kids. It also stands out for its integration of nature, with trees, green areas, and elements made of wood or sand, which encourage more creative and free play. Cleanliness and upkeep are key: a beautiful park can lose all its appeal if the structures are dirty or run-down.

Like everything, it has its downsides: it's not close to my home and parking is difficult, which sometimes limits visits.

Overall, I value it because it's a space where children can play safely and explore, while the adults accompanying them can do so with peace of mind.

‍

Yes, after visiting many parks and listening to families, I have a pretty clear idea of what my ideal playground would look like. It would be a space designed from childhood and for childhood, with safety, cleanliness, and comfort for everyone.

Some key elements would be:

• Sufficient shade, both natural and artificial, with awnings or structures to protect from Mallorca's intense sun.
• Separate areas by age group, so the youngest children can play safely without mixing with older kids.
• Safe and natural ground surfaces, with more organic materials that cushion falls and are pleasant to the touch.
• Full enclosing fences with gates to gain time if a child tries to leave and to increase safety.
• Inclusive equipment, adapted for children with disabilities, so everyone can enjoy the space.
• Constant maintenance and cleaning, preventing the build-up of dirt on the structures and ensuring the park is always hygienic.
• Green areas and natural elements, such as sand, wood, and vegetation, that encourage free and creative play.
• Benches and water fountains, so accompanying adults are comfortable and children have access to drinking water.

In short, it would be a park where safety, nature, and free play coexist, and where families can enjoy the space with peace of mind, without sacrificing the care and upkeep it deserves.

Learn more and follow @parcsdepalma