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When the M-30 road went underground, a beautiful garden along the Manzanares River sprung up in its place: Madrid Río. This exceptional recreational space has miles of parks and sports facilities as well as views from the 33 bridges along the course of the river. The oldest bridge is the 16th century Puente de Toledo while the newest is the Puente de Arganzuela designed by Dominique Perrault. Though inaugurated in 2011, Madrid Río has only just now come into its own. All segments of the project are done, the cafes are open for business, the landscaping is lush and locals have lovingly claimed the green space as their own.
On any given day you can see people walking, jogging, skating and cycling along the miles of smooth paths, children enjoying the 17 different playgrounds, people playing in the water at the urban beach, soccer players on the fields, tennis and paddle players on the courts, skateboarders and BMX riders practicing their tricks at the skatepark and BMX track, rockclimbers scaling the walls at the rockclimbing gym, as well as people relaxing on the lawns, benches or at the tables of the outdoor cafes. And especially now that it is summer in Madrid and the weather is warm and beautiful.
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