The new green and leisure area that is being built in the town of Madalena will be named after the maroiços, volcanic stones that are a symbol of the typical cultural heritage of the island of Pico. The Maroiços Park will comprise an area of over 10,000 m2 and will be a ‘green lung’ in the town centre and a modern and safe space adapted to the demands of people of all ages.
The park’s project was unveiled this afternoon during the statutory visit and will feature a children’s playground (with a merry-go-round, seesaws, swings and slides), walking trails connecting the whole park in an area over 4,000 m2, an area for extreme sports (skating ground, climbing tower, slides and street basketball), a small square with an outdoor café and a playground.
The Regional Secretary praised the project and highlighted the synchronism between history and modernity, tradition and development. “The sports facilities that will be built here represent a perfect link between the past, the present and the future, that is, the maroiços as an element of identity of Pico are at the heart of this project which takes advantage of a premium space of the Region that was not used and whose value will be increased from now on with a great public utility,” said José Contente during a visit to the area.
The park will be able to receive any type of cultural and sports activities in addition to family walks and to the enjoyment of all green and social spaces that will be available.
The Maroiços Park will feature support services, namely a kiosk and public toilets, and street furniture, such as benches, waste containers, drinking fountains, lamp posts, and ash trays.
There will lawns and trees throughout the whole space comprising more than 10,000 m2, featuring trees that are endemic and/or traditional to the island in addition to an espalier with a grapevine, the major cultural reference that identifies Pico.
The perimeter of the Maroiços Park will provide all safety features and will meet all criteria set by the legislation, namely a fence, covered areas for shelter, information signs, among others.
The construction of Pico’s new and largest green area was contracted to the company Nascimento Neves e Filho, Lda., has a execution period of 180 days and represents an investment of about half a million euros.