Torrevieja pays tribute to Antonio Ruiz "El liebre", the driving force behind the pine forest that gave rise to the current Municipal Natural Area of Molino del Agua

This morning, the Torrevieja City Council paid tribute to Antonio Ruiz “El Liebre” with the unveiling of a commemorative plaque at the Molino del Agua Municipal Natural Area, in recognition of his work, dedication, and crucial contribution to the conservation and development of this emblematic natural space within the municipality. The story of Antonio Ruiz and his connection to this area was reflected in a municipal proposal, unanimously approved by the full council, presented by councilwoman Yolanda Cabezuelo of the VOX Municipal Group.

The event was attended by the mayor of Torrevieja, Eduardo Dolón, the councilor for Parks and Gardens, Concha Sala, the VOX councilors, Salvador Ruso and Yolanda Cabezuelo, family and friends of Antonio Ruiz, who wanted to accompany this emotional recognition to one of the people who contributed the most to the creation and conservation of the pine forest that today forms part of the most characteristic landscape of La Mata.

A LIFE DEDICATED TO PROTECTING THIS NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Antonio Ruiz, popularly known as "El Liebre" (The Hare), began his connection with this area in the 1920s, after suffering a serious accident while working on the construction of the La Mata canal. As a result of the injuries he sustained from that fall, the salt company he worked for assigned him the care and maintenance of a small wooded area located between Molino del Agua and Lo Albentosa.

Together with his family, he moved to La Mata when it was still a small fishing and farming village. From then on, he dedicated much of his life to planting, caring for, and protecting thousands of pine trees in a particularly challenging terrain, marked by the constant advance of the dunes and the strong easterly winds. Thanks to his effort and perseverance, that modest pine grove grew into the natural space that locals and visitors alike know and enjoy today.

THE ORIGIN OF THE CURRENT WATER MILL PARK

In addition to his reforestation work, Antonio Ruiz participated in the construction of paths and access routes that facilitated communication between the Water Mill and the beach, contributing to the configuration of an environment that over the decades would become one of the most valuable and visited natural spaces in Torrevieja.

His commitment to this place was so profound that he dedicated his entire life to ensuring its conservation, becoming an inseparable figure in the environmental history of La Mata.

A CITY-WIDE RECOGNITION

With the installation of this commemorative plaque, the Torrevieja City Council wishes to perpetuate the memory of Antonio Ruiz “El Liebre” and publicly thank him for his contribution to the protection of the municipality's natural heritage.

During the ceremony, Mayor Eduardo Dolón emphasized that “today we are honoring someone who dedicated a large part of his life to caring for this area when it was just a small pine grove. Thanks to his effort, vision, and care for nature, today we can enjoy one of the most important environmental spaces in Torrevieja.”

For her part, the Councillor for Parks and Gardens, Concha Sala, stressed that “this tribute allows us to recover the memory of those who, with work and sacrifice, helped to build the natural heritage that we have inherited and that we have the responsibility to conserve for future generations.”

The plaque unveiled this morning will remain located at the main entrance of the Molino del Agua Municipal Natural Area as a permanent testament to Torrevieja's gratitude to Antonio Ruiz "El Liebre", whose legacy will forever be linked to this unique enclave of the Torrevieja coast.