Collserola Park faces severe access restrictions this December holiday period due to an African swine fever outbreak in wild boar.

Barcelona’s third deputy mayor for security, Albert Batlle, has urged the public to “restrict as much as possible” visits to the popular natural area.

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The Catalan government has established a double security perimeter to contain the disease.

Collserola Park Faces Major Biosecurity Measures

The most restrictive zone covers a six-kilometre radius from the initial outbreak point in Cerdanyola del Vallès, affecting twelve municipalities. Furthermore, a broader twenty-kilometre perimeter includes sixty-four towns, with Barcelona itself falling within this zone. Consequently, all recreational access to the entire park is now prohibited.

This includes sports and other leisure activities. The city council has stated it is at the disposal of the Generalitat for any necessary actions. “There will be patrols from the Guardia Urbana, Firefighters, Civil Protection, and Rural Agents to ensure the restriction is complied with,” Batlle added.

Authorities are taking these drastic steps to prevent the spread of the highly contagious animal disease. The outbreak has prompted a coordinated emergency response across multiple agencies. Meanwhile, access to the Tibidabo Amusement Park remains unaffected by the new measures.

Residents and visitors are advised to seek alternative green spaces. The restrictions highlight the delicate balance between public access and environmental protection in urban natural parks. For those looking for other weekend activities, Barcelona is opening 57 exclusive buildings this weekend as part of a separate cultural initiative.

This incident follows other recent disruptions to Barcelona’s infrastructure, including a significant disruption on the L5 metro line between Hospital Clinic and Diagonal. The Collserola Park restrictions represent a significant impact on weekend plans for many Barcelona residents who regularly use the park for recreation.

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