Municipal Authority not changing its mind regarding skateboard area in Garitsa Park
Garitsa
08 Feb 2022
/ 19:52
CORFU. The Garitsa Cultural Association met with the Central Corfu Mayor Meropi Ydraiou and the Deputy Mayor for Technical Works Nikos Kalogeros.
Τhe Municipal Authority is still following its planning for the regeneration of the Garitsa Park – a project that has already been contracted. The Garitsa Cultural Association, however, disagrees with the construction of a skateboard area, even though it believes that the regeneration will bring many improvements.
The first meeting of the Association with the Deputy Mayor for Technical Works was held last Thursday, while on Tuesday 8 February, the Association’s Board, along with citizens, met with the Mayor Meropi Ydraiou and Mr. Kalogeros to express once again its request, but they did not find a mutually acceptable solution.
“The Mayor was adamant and said that the construction of the skateboard area will proceed as it is. We, as residents, will take every action to protect nature in an urban environment that is full of concrete. We keep fighting for the beauty, peace and life of the natural environment of the Garitsa Park”, said the Association’s Board in a statement after the meeting.
Why they are opposing
The Association made the following statement on the reasons for their opposition:
“The Garitsa and Anemomylos Parks are a wonderful oasis of green in Town Centre, one of the first places that visitors to our island see and walk at and a place that Corfiots can be proud to have on the island. Its trees are a shelter for many bird species and its location is unique, as both the Parks themselves and the view from the Garitsa Park with the Old Fortress, Anemomylos, the lighthouse and its turquoise waters make the ‘Corfu Riviera’. Every year, tens of thousands of locals and travellers visit it and enjoy its peace and clarity.
Since we have been residents of the area for many years and since these Parks are part of our lives and hearts, we are saddened by the fact that is has been neglected and poorly maintained over the years.
The “Regeneration of Garitsa and Anemomylos Parks” project includes many great improvements which will beautify the Parks and which, as residents of the area, we have been requesting for years. However, the creation of a 900sq.m. skateboard area opposite the Holy Church and the destruction of nature that this project entails, is something we are completely opposed to, as is the way in which the decision for its creation was made:
1) The construction of the skateboard area will result in the destruction of the natural landscape. Trees, birds' nests, greenery and flowers will be uprooted. Nature will be transformed to concrete. Therefore, we believe that by putting so much concrete in such an area, it is like we are disrespecting nature, the area’s inhabitants and Corfu in general.
2) Instead of the sound of leaves and birds, we will be hearing the ‘violent’ sound of skateboards, which will cause noise pollution in a residential area where the legal limit is 50dB.
3) The area to be concreted is a place for forging relationships and creating life experiences. Young children take their first steps there, they come in touch with nature, they play with their parents and grandparents and they run around chasing each other. They live moments of joy close to nature and family.
4) This is an area where dozens of pets come to play, run and release their accumulated energy.
Regarding the decision to build this skateboard area, we are deeply saddened and disappointed that they did not inform or contact the local residents and businesses about the project plan. The project's details became known recently, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, without prior notification, leaving us with a bittersweet taste and making us wonder if we are really acting collectively on the island.”
The first meeting of the Association with the Deputy Mayor for Technical Works was held last Thursday, while on Tuesday 8 February, the Association’s Board, along with citizens, met with the Mayor Meropi Ydraiou and Mr. Kalogeros to express once again its request, but they did not find a mutually acceptable solution.
“The Mayor was adamant and said that the construction of the skateboard area will proceed as it is. We, as residents, will take every action to protect nature in an urban environment that is full of concrete. We keep fighting for the beauty, peace and life of the natural environment of the Garitsa Park”, said the Association’s Board in a statement after the meeting.
Why they are opposing
The Association made the following statement on the reasons for their opposition:
“The Garitsa and Anemomylos Parks are a wonderful oasis of green in Town Centre, one of the first places that visitors to our island see and walk at and a place that Corfiots can be proud to have on the island. Its trees are a shelter for many bird species and its location is unique, as both the Parks themselves and the view from the Garitsa Park with the Old Fortress, Anemomylos, the lighthouse and its turquoise waters make the ‘Corfu Riviera’. Every year, tens of thousands of locals and travellers visit it and enjoy its peace and clarity.
Since we have been residents of the area for many years and since these Parks are part of our lives and hearts, we are saddened by the fact that is has been neglected and poorly maintained over the years.
The “Regeneration of Garitsa and Anemomylos Parks” project includes many great improvements which will beautify the Parks and which, as residents of the area, we have been requesting for years. However, the creation of a 900sq.m. skateboard area opposite the Holy Church and the destruction of nature that this project entails, is something we are completely opposed to, as is the way in which the decision for its creation was made:
1) The construction of the skateboard area will result in the destruction of the natural landscape. Trees, birds' nests, greenery and flowers will be uprooted. Nature will be transformed to concrete. Therefore, we believe that by putting so much concrete in such an area, it is like we are disrespecting nature, the area’s inhabitants and Corfu in general.
2) Instead of the sound of leaves and birds, we will be hearing the ‘violent’ sound of skateboards, which will cause noise pollution in a residential area where the legal limit is 50dB.
3) The area to be concreted is a place for forging relationships and creating life experiences. Young children take their first steps there, they come in touch with nature, they play with their parents and grandparents and they run around chasing each other. They live moments of joy close to nature and family.
4) This is an area where dozens of pets come to play, run and release their accumulated energy.
Regarding the decision to build this skateboard area, we are deeply saddened and disappointed that they did not inform or contact the local residents and businesses about the project plan. The project's details became known recently, in the midst of the Covid pandemic, without prior notification, leaving us with a bittersweet taste and making us wonder if we are really acting collectively on the island.”
