The municipal government of Ponta do Sol has announced plans to reopen the Marina do Lugar de Baixo and transform the damaged site into a seaside leisure area. Mayor Rui Marques said the aim is to reduce the feeling of abandonment and restore public use of the space. The project, which some estimates say used up to €100 million in public funds, never became fully operational and has been closed for years after repeated damage from strong sea conditions. The council says the area could serve as a bathing and leisure zone if basic safety and access requirements are met. Rui Marques added that the municipality is prepared to clean the seabed, which still contains debris left after the marina was destroyed by waves, but this depends on approval and coordination with the Regional Government. He said the section next to the cliff remains a risk zone, while the rest of the former complex could be reorganized into “uma zona com alguma segurança” for public use. Access to the sea would be made from the eastern side, which the municipality considers safe, and the area already has space for parking. The mayor said the leisure area could be ready by the summer of 2027 at the latest, although any work will depend on the Regional Government’s response and the planning of support infrastructure.
