To spot O'Donnell Park, just look for a wide, tree-filled green space where sunlight sifts down through towering pines and there are inviting pathways and hedges leading you deeper into its leafy heart.
Alright, take a deep breath-the fresh scent you’re enjoying comes from trees that have been guarding this spot for centuries! You’re now standing at the entrance of O’Donnell Park, one of Alcalá de Henares’ proudest green lungs. Believe it or not, this peaceful haven started off way back in 1788 as a grand walkway called the Paseo del Chorrillo, an idea dreamed up by Archbishop Francisco de Lorenzana. Picture double lines of majestic black poplars, maybe giving off a slight whisper when the wind ran through; back then, it was the ultimate place to see and be seen (and judging by all the dogs these days, still is, only with more barking).
But along came the trains! In 1859, the newly built Madrid-Zaragoza railway sliced the original promenade in half. Talk about putting a damper on your peaceful stroll-not quite what the archbishop envisioned! Fast forward to 1898, the city acquired new land right next to this promenade. Enter Martín Pastells, the imaginative city architect who designed the park we now know, and by 1899, Mayor Félix Huerta and Huerta swung the gates wide open. The park got its name to honor General Leopoldo O’Donnell, a dashing figure who, along with General Dulce, set off from Alcalá with their cavalry-sparking Spain’s Revolution of 1854. Let’s just say, if you ever see any ghosts galloping about on invisible horses, they’re probably late for a revolution.
The trees here have their own soap opera too. What started as poplars was gradually overtaken by hardy pines, especially after 1902, with more planted every decade. The old walkway earned a new nickname: Paseo de los Pinos. Pines, oaks, firs, and even a few palms now tower overhead, giving the park its jungle-like, evergreen charm.
But the story doesn’t end there! From 1965 until 1980, this was Alcalá’s center stage for summer fairs and festivals-imagine the laughter, the blaring music, kids running in a sugar rush, and the whole place sprouting with stalls and games. When the city outgrew it, the party moved, but echoes of all those celebrations still seem to linger, especially around the old fair ground.
And let’s not forget the legendary children’s duck pond! For years, families flocked to the “Parque de los Patos,” where ducklings, pigeons, and birds held feathery congress, much to children’s delight. Though the pond was renovated recently, the kid inside every Alcalá local still calls this place the Park of Ducks.
Just in case your nose starts twitching-yes, that is the scent of over 2,600 rose bushes you’re catching, thanks to a stunning rose garden added in 2012. Some roses even have pedigrees longer than royal families!
Today, the park also boasts a municipal pool, playgrounds, football fields, a large nursery where Alcalá’s streetside plants begin their lives, and of course, the ever-watchful trees. While the park has battled its share of trouble from litter and late-night mischief, it remains a beloved patch of green-always ready with a shady bench, a patch of sunlight, and maybe-just maybe-a tiny whisper from its revolutionary past.
Ready to wander deeper? Let’s see what Alcalá holds next!
