THE GIANT’S GARDEN IS OURS: A SUCCESSFUL EXAMPLE OF SMALL SCALE ACTION

The actions, chosen and discussed together with our Urbact Local Group, should have the objective of testing in the field whether a certain participatory strategy or practice works well, if it is suitable for our context and if it finds positive feedback from the subjects involved.

They therefore represent a kind of thermometer to know if we are proceeding in the right direction and if we are planning actions for the future according to a winning and effective methodology and, if applied on a larger scale, capable of bringing concrete results.

One of the actions that was organized with the greatest satisfaction by the Municipality of Cento was that dedicated to one of the most characteristic places in the city of Cento, the Giardino del Gigante (Giant’s Garden). The action wanted specifically to experiment with two challenges: supporting lively neighborhoods and co -creating solutions for the city.

There is in Cento a very beautiful garden, designed as an environmental work of art with big mosaic sculptures in the shape of animals and natural elements. It was originally thought to be a place of art and contemplation for the citizens, where people could safely meet and have leisure time. Unfortunately although the park is close to the center, in a busy area, near a shopping center, it has in more recent times turned out to become a frequentation place of “not reassuring” people who are often responsible for acts of vandalism and negligence against the site and its works of art.  Cento’s citizens had been long complaining for being afraid of going there, showing a real disaffection towards the garden.

It was necessary to rebuild the neighbourhood inhabitants' sense of belonging to this place and to offer them the chance to rediscover the garden in a completely different guise.

It was then decided  to set up an action dedicated to this place based on co-planning process. The idea was to co-project a special event with the aim of involving citizens in the rethinking the place with new ideas.

The SSA has been therefore not only a response to the repeated acts of vandalism against the park but above all an occasion to listen to citizens and receive from them proposals and suggestions to enliven the garden and make it a safe and pleasant place to live in. In order to attract as many people as possible to the Garden that day, some associations were involved in co-designing some animation activities.

Various meeting were held for the preparation of the event and the definition of the objectives to be achieved. Different local associations were invited by e-mail to take part into the co-planning of the event proposing some activities for the citizens. Six associations from the territory expressed their interest to participate and to organize artistic labs for different target groups.

With this Small Scale Action we expected to achieve some important aims: to raise citizens’ interest towards the park and encourage them in building a care committee for the Giardino del Gigante, to collect ideas and proposals from the citizens for the  re-development of the park and finally to gain active participation in the workshops organised by the local associations, thus making people experience a positive dimension of the site.

On Saturday 30th April 2022 the event took place with great participation of enthusiastic people. Under a gazebo the Municipality of Cento’s team collected ideas from the citizens for the improvement of the Garden (people could write their free suggestions on dedicated posters) and five possible projects suggested by the Municipality were subjected to a vote.

Citizens, filling out a form or using a special QR code, could also declare their availability to enter the new citizens care committee for the Garden. Meanwhile,  the six associations entertained citizens with performances and free creative labs on music, art, literature, photography, drawing and astronomy.

The Five proposals from the Municipality have been voted as follows:

1. Kiosk for parties or family activities: 31
2. Annual community-sponsored cultural events calendar: 43
3. Gardening area: 22
4. Equipped area with sport facilities: 20
5. Sport activities calendar throughout the year: 9

22 people have given their availability to found the citizens care committee for the Garden (update 05/05/22 - The QR codes are still hanging from the trees there and the membership campaign is still on going!), a remarkable number of suggestions arrived from the citizens to make the Garden safer and livable and people, in a general festive atmosphere, experienced the park in a lively and joyful way. Finally an idea of founding an associations partnership for the animation of the Garden throughout the year came out.

We can affirm that the action has been successfully carried out and hopefully some suggestions received from citizens will become true in the near future, with an active citizens committee guarding the park and taking care of it.