Citizens-led park luxury crafted by Dallara
In the heart of Varano de' Melegari, a small village in Parma, Italy, lies a vibrant new addition to the community - Il Parco dei Melograni. This unique urban park is a testament to the power of community-led development, where local residents and stakeholders have played an active role in its planning, design, implementation, and management.
The park's name, derived from the pomegranate, a symbol of fertility and good omen in the local community, reflects its roots. Some legends suggest that the pomegranate in "Varano de' Melegari" arrived through a monk or with Hannibal on his way to Rome.
The park is not just for the native people but also for those who have moved to work in the town. It serves as a gathering place for the community, fostering a sense of shared ownership and relationship. The Dallara Foundation, based in Milan, promoted the initiative for the park's creation and has expressed its mission statement as, "Each of us is like a pomegranate seed, both individual and inseparable from the others."
The park's development is an open construction site, adaptable to the needs and unexpected uses of the community. Temporary infrastructures, such as a wooden amphitheater and social gardens, have already been built by volunteers. The future plans include additional infrastructures beyond these temporary ones, with a multi-purpose sports field and obstacle courses for children in the pipeline.
The park's functions are identified by the local community and are subject to change, reflecting the dynamic nature of community needs. The Dallara Foundation is also looking for a location within the park for its social utility activities.
The process of creating Il Parco dei Melograni follows a community-driven framework, harnessing local involvement from conception through management, integrating ecological and social goals, and promoting shared ownership to create sustainable and equitable urban green spaces.
The park's development is part of an ongoing effort to regulate the use of the area. The Milan-based KCity provided support for the process of planning and building the park, and the entire town and its 2,500 inhabitants attended its recent inauguration.
Il Parco dei Melograni, a common good urban park, is a shining example of how community-led development can transform a space into a thriving, inclusive, and sustainable urban oasis. The park's future is bright, with continued community engagement ensuring its evolution to meet the changing needs of its users.
The home-and-garden aspect of Il Parco dei Melograni is evident in the social gardens built by volunteers, catering to the residents' needs for communal gardening. The lifestyle within this vibrant urban park aligns with its mission statement, embodying the philosophy of each individual being like a pomegranate seed, interconnected and part of a larger whole.
