In a statement, IL regrets that the Água de Pena Sports Park, “an emblematic facility that promoted pride and community cohesion”, is now “in a state of deep and regrettable abandonment and deterioration”.
From the party’s perspective, “this not only reflects a critical lack of attention and care on the part of the municipal authorities responsible for the space, but also highlights a significant lack of vision and strategy that has been harmful on several levels”.
( This along with many other areas on the island is the same story over and over, they seem to be happy to build all these nice things, and then sit back and watch and wait to see how long it becomes a ruin, a mess on the island. Cristo Rei, Fly Farm Camacha, Matur complex Água Pena, fish farm Sao Vicente, marina lugar Baixo, probably the most famous, to name just a few off the top of my head, but I’m sure you can add many more in the comments)
Recalling the 2013 storm, IL considers that “the park has become an example of administrative negligence, with its facilities and infrastructure falling into pieces”. “The lack of maintenance is visible in every corner: neglected gardens, sanitary infrastructure in precarious conditions, abandoned playing fields, a non-existent playground, and the omnipresent rust corroding the structures that previously served those who visited the space. This scenario of neglect is not just a testimony to the time that passes without corrective actions, it is a cry for an urgent change in management and commitment to good management practices”, highlights the party, pointing to “municipal and governmental inertia” , added to the “inability to effectively manage the park and attract investments necessary for its revitalization”, which “has hindered local development and deprived residents of a valuable resource for leisure and sports”.
The current state of the sports park thus raises concerns “not only about the physical integrity of its users, but also about the wasted potential of a space that could serve as a vibrant hub for centralising sporting activity and, as such, a catalyst for local development”.
Therefore, the party states that “comprehensive requalification and a long-term strategy” are necessary. In addition to financial investment, IL considers that “it requires a complete reimagining of how space can be used to maximize its value. The revitalization of space should be seen not just as a matter of physical restoration, but as an opportunity to rethink the management of public spaces, encouraging community participation, attracting investment, and promoting a higher quality of life”.
“The reconstruction of the Água de Pena Sports Park should not just be about repairing what was lost, but about rebuilding with a vision of the future, which honors its past and embraces the possibilities of tomorrow”, concludes IL.