Discontent is growing among many Neapolitans for the denied public greenery. The precarious state of the few public parks and gardens in the Neapolitan capital contributes significantly to the situation of degradation and abandonment.
Within the hilly municipality, which includes the districts of Vomero and Arenella, with about 120 thousand residents, in addition to the park of Villa Floridiana, where recently there was a surprise visit by the Minister of Culture, Sangiuliano, who found serious critical issues in the management of the Bourbon park, announcing the creation of the autonomous center "National Museums of Vomero", another public green area on the Neapolitan hill is back in the spotlight, frequented by many accompanied children but also by numerous elderly people.
This is the Mascagna municipal park, formerly known as the gardens of via Ruoppolo, one of the few public green spaces available to residents of a densely populated area, on the border between the two hilly districts, which unfortunately, since this morning, following the management provision, n. 10731_04 of 07/09/2023, has been closed "until the conclusion of the intervention called Redevelopment of the Mascagna Park.
Gennaro Capodanno, president of the Comitato Valori collinari, intervenes once again on the long-standing vicissitudes of the municipal park in question: "In this regard - Capodanno recalls - last February, therefore seven months ago, the Neapolitan Municipal Council had approved, with resolution no. 27 of 03/02/2023, the executive project for the redevelopment of the Mascagna park.
The interventions were financed by the Metropolitan City strategic plan for an amount of approximately 440 thousand euros, providing, in addition to the works for trees and green areas, also the resurfacing of the paving, lighting, irrigation and video surveillance systems.
Furthermore, all the play areas would have been redeveloped, with the replacement of existing rides and the creation of diversified themed areas, including a sports and fitness area, a play area, an educational garden and a dog area. The project also included interventions on the basketball and bowling courts, the restoration of the fountain, which had been out of use for months and had been transformed into a waste receptacle, and the revision of the furnishings, seats and shelters. Finally, the park would have been equipped with information signs on the existing tree species.
"With the approval of the executive project - announced at the time the municipal councilor for public parks, Santagada - we can finally proceed with the redevelopment of the park with the necessary works to give back to the neighborhood a green lung and a play area for the benefit of the entire community, children, the elderly and families."
"But then - underlines Capodanno - more recently the bad news came out, greeted with great disappointment by the regular visitors, that in fact the Mascagna park had been included among the six city parks for which the tender procedures for the assignment of the redevelopment works were activated only last July.
Procedures that, according to what is written in the aforementioned management provision, for which the tender has indeed been carried out but for which currently, and we are in September, "checks are underway on the successful tenderer to arrive at the final award and delivery of the works". Also on the basis of the experience of what is happening for the twenty-year revision works for the Chiaia funicular, it is feared that these checks could last for a long time, further delaying the start of the works".
"The only certain thing - Capodanno points out - remains what is written in the provision, that is, the closure of the Mascagna park from today to "protect public and private safety" since, as stated in the preamble, following further inspections "it has emerged that further critical issues have been added to those already present in the Mascagna park" for which reason "it is no longer possible to keep the Mascagna park open for public use".
This closure, at the moment, is indefinite, given that not only is it not yet known when the works will begin but also their probable duration. In light of the above, I consider it very difficult for the park to reopen within the current year.
"In the meantime - he added this morning - the many people who usually frequent the park, many accompanied children but also elderly people, since it is still the height of summer, with many beautiful sunny days, after having learned the bad news from the notices posted along the fence, did not lose heart and continued their games and activities, as far as possible obviously, in the pedestrian avenues around the park, these too partially cordoned off, after the fire, which recently occurred, of two palm trees".
On the subject, Capodanno announces that, shortly, a series of protests will be staged, including a flash mob in front of the closed gates, which will be carried out together with other local committees and associations, also to urge, while waiting for the maintenance work - which hopefully can begin soon and have a limited duration -, constant and greater attention to the cleaning of the entire area of the municipal park and the avenues in front.
Furthermore, in light of what happened, due to the serious delays accumulated that have led to the closure of the municipal park for the reasons stated, the resignation of the municipal councilor for greenery, Vincenzo Santagada, is requested, just as it is hoped that an investigation will be opened on the matter by the investigating magistrates to evaluate any responsibilities for what has been reported for months by residents, committees and associations in relation to the state of degradation and abandonment that has long afflicted the Mascagna park and which have led to its closure.
Article published on 9 September 2023 - 10:32
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