"So much thunder that it rained - begins with satisfaction Gennaro Capodanno, president of the Valori Committee, who has taken to the field several times, even with the creation of a page on the social network Facebook, which has over 3.100 members and with the launch of an online petition, in order to restore the full usability of the Bourbon park, at the news that finally from next week the park of the Floridian Villa it will be open every day, therefore also on Tuesdays when, for time immemorial, the park remained closed in conjunction with the day of rest of the employees of the Duca di Martina museum, which is located inside the Bourbon park -. It was a long battle, with petitions and protests.
Then, during the live television broadcast last month on Rai 3's "Buongiorno Regione", I intervened again with yet another request that finally produced the long-desired result, to the great satisfaction of the thousands of people who frequent the park, for whom it was incomprehensible that the only public park available to the approximately 48 thousand residents of Vomero remained closed for a period of time equal to 15% of the year, representing, in this respect, an unacceptable exception compared to all the other city parks that remain open every day of the week.
"Beyond the satisfaction for this first result - adds Capodanno - unfortunately the fact remains that almost two years after the reopening of the park of the Villa Floridiana, reopening which took place on 21 April 2021, even on the occasion of the last inspection I was able to note, once again, that little has changed, except for the reopening of an area, the one located around the camellia grove, which took place more than a year ago ".
”Walking along the avenues – Capodanno points out – one continues to observe the presence of numerous barriers that, since 2011, therefore for a good twelve, limit access to about 30% of the little more than seven hectares occupied by the Bourbon park. At present, however, no work in progress is observed, despite the fact that significant funding has arrived for some time, we are talking about five million euros, from the Ministry of Culture for extraordinary maintenance work to be carried out inside the historic garden in order to fully restore it to the enjoyment of visitors. Not only that, but all the avenues are dotted with bumps and potholes that make the path difficult especially for the elderly and those with walking problems, who also complain of frequent falls “.
” There remains – continues Capodanno – also the problem of adequately equipping, in various points of the park, play areas for children. At the moment there is only one flowerbed, barren, located near the camellia garden, where there is a slide, a swing and two little horses, really too few for the many accompanied children who frequent the park. In this regard I have relaunched the request to use the existing buildings, some of which are free while others are occupied by people, it is not known in what capacity, to also create a playroom, again for children, and spaces for events, exhibitions and meetings, with one or more refreshment points and above all equipping toilets that are missing in the park, being present only in the museum “.
On the issues still open Capodanno launches a new appeal to the Minister of Culture, Gennaro Sangiuliano, and to the competent offices of the regional directorate of museums of Campania, whose heritage includes Villa Floridiana, so that operational responses are given to all the problems highlighted, with particular reference to the extension of the opening hours of the park, also making public the schedule of the works to be carried out, using the economic resources already available, for the redevelopment of the entire area and for its full return to visitors and with the provision of sufficient staff to constantly guarantee the guarding, surveillance and ordinary maintenance with the opening of both entrances.
Article published on March 11, 2023 - 13pm
