Verona: €350 project for the Predara Garden.

The Board approved today the Technical-administrative feasibility document, also defined thanks to the proposals collected in the participatory process activated with the Common goods , Constituency. The portico will be eliminated To "open up" the square. The restrooms in the southern building will be renovated and a terrace with a pergola will be added. Furnishings are provided for various types of users: a play platform, seats, deckchairs, a stage, slides and water courses that take advantage of the slope.

The municipal administration intends to redevelop the Predara public garden in the San Martino neighborhood, addressing critical aspects without disrupting the original layout. The green space, street furniture, and pathways have not undergone any major renovations since the 1990s, but only routine maintenance. Therefore, it is now necessary to renovate the existing features and renovate worn or damaged elements. To improve the garden's visibility and its various levels, it was decided to address the edges and inactive spaces.

The definition of the project proposals and the participatory process were conducted with the support of the architect Lara ZoccatelliThe preparation phase of the preliminary proposal of the Technical-Administrative Feasibility Document, approved today by the Council, was preceded by a participatory process aimed at the signatories of the Collaboration agreement "A garden for San Martino", promoted by the Common Goods service from 2023 to 2024 to keep the garden area active in order to resolve the problems of degradation and insecurity reported in a 2022 district resolution, containing some in-depth proposals in the preliminary phase.

Street facing: The remains of the now meaningless portico will be removed to "open up" the square, creating a second access point for maintenance vehicles. To protect the pedestrian area, a large green area with trees and seating will be created. A more transparent railing is also being considered.

South Building: The restrooms on the mezzanine floor and the currently inactive first-floor space will be renovated, opening up the south-facing lawn and adding a terrace with a pergola. Raising the roof by approximately 75 cm is desirable to ensure the entire 36 square meter space remains habitable, subject to a feasibility study and approval in subsequent phases. The space will be available for separately managed activities: an educational workshop for daycare centers and schools, a parent-child area, and a senior citizen space.

Cliff: In the lower section, some vegetation will be pruned to enhance the carved stone walls and make the peripheral areas safer. New ground lighting is also planned.

Slopes and street furniture: the small size of the garden limits the creation of too specific areas, which is why it was chosen to install informal custom-made fixed elements in wood and steel, such as a play platform, seats, deck chairs and stage. On the highest slope in the north-east corner, it will be possible to consider creating an area with slope games such as slides and water courses, after checking the slope and the possibility of building a cushioned finish.

Some street furniture elements could also be repeated along the access routes to the garden, to anticipate and recall its presence.

The overall cost of the project is estimated at around 350 thousand euros.