Riva’s Ex Cattori Area to Become Sustainable Public Park

We are returning to discuss the ex Cattoi area, and this time, finally, to try to identify the future purpose of the large space on viale Rovereto. In fact, since it is certainly known that the area has been designated as a public park for years, it would be more accurate to say that we are trying to understand “what kind” of park the Rivana administration will develop in the future.

The task of understanding the needs of a city like Riva has been entrusted to the “Commissione verde” (Green Commission), which was established about three years ago during the Molinari administration. It has already completed the renovation of the Giardini Verdi, those at Porta Orientale, and those at Largo Mille, in the Rione district. Currently, it is engaged in a study regarding the restoration of a walkway on the Ponale, at Belvedere.

After gathering all data and procedures related to the ex Cattoi area, a preliminary meeting was held on Tuesday afternoon. During this meeting, many other topics were also discussed, such as the selection of plants to be placed along viale Vannetti and the planning of green spaces in kindergartens. The commission members—Stefano Lotti, Paolo Matteotti, Emilio Munari, Mauro Calliari, and Fedrizzi—will meet again on Thursday, July 27, in the presence of the councilor Luigi Marino, to evaluate the situation, exchange ideas, and begin developing proposals to be subsequently submitted to the Servizio di Ripristino Ambientale (Environmental Restoration Service).

Destination and design of the park

“Assuming that the area has long been designated to become a park,” explains Paolo Matteotti, “and that a change of purpose would be absolutely inadmissible, we need to decide, based on a few fixed points, what it will look like and, most importantly, what its future functions will be.”

So far, the only certainties—represented by the project previously presented by architect Favole—are the construction of two bridges over the Albola and Varone streams, the aesthetic enhancement of where they flow into the lake, and the addition of two bike paths inside the area. Everything else remains to be decided.

The space, which is currently used sporadically as a parking lot and once a year hosts the Bike Festival, has cost the Rivana administration nearly 4 billion euros.

“It’s clear,” continues Matteotti, “that—even considering such a cost—it is difficult to imagine equipping an area suitable to host an event lasting four days, just once a year.”