The application submitted by Lousã Council, in partnership with the Montanha Clube, of the Louzanpark - Sports and Leisure Centre in Serra da Lousã to the Boroughs of the Year 2018 competition is one of the finalist projects in the Centre category, with less than 20,000 inhabitants.
After being one of the winning boroughs in the Centre Region category in 2015, with its Cerdeira Village Project and, in 2017, one of the finalists in the same category, with its 10,000 lives project, Lousã is once again a finalist in this competition of recognised merit.
The LouzanPark project was borne out ofthe need to enhance one of the main sports and leisure activities in the borough, namely nature activities.
This project, promoted by Montanha Clube, consists of an arrangement of various hiking trails, mountain bike trails in its various forms (Downhill, Cross Country and Enduro), hiking trails, off-road tourist trails, and paragliding infrastructures among other destinations for various nature activities, as well as specialised human resources.
In addition to all these natural infrastructures, the LouzanPark has support facilities for all activities carried out in the Lousã Mountains, includingchanging rooms, auditorium, café, meeting room, bicycle repair shop and information point.
Since its implementation, this project has hosted a wide range of national and international sports events, such as the European Downhill Championship, the National Enduro - Motorbike and Enduro - MTB Championships, the National Trail Championships and paragliding competitions, among others.
As well as national and international sports events, LouzanPark welcomes thousands every year who use its infrastructure and services for leisure activities.
The 35 finalist projects in the competition promoted by the University of Minho, through its UM-Cidades Platform, will be subject to evaluation by the national jury to grant nine boroughs with a regional award and choose the Borough of the Year 2018.
The results will be announced at the award ceremony on 16 November at the Paço dos Duques de Bragança, in Guimarães.