The perfect definition could be “on the wave of enthusiasm”. And not only because the waves – inspired by Hokusai’s famous ones – are the wooden business card of the new space stolen from cars in Viale Maria Luigia. The enthusiasm is that, enthralling and concrete, which meant that the first parklet created last year by the Change Group of the Ulivi scientific high school did not remain the only one: countdown to the debut of its different twin signed by the Green Team of the Romagnosi classical high school.
Students from the two schools but also fans of the project enrolled in other institutes, from Marconi to Bertolucci, arrived to help build it. Once again a wave of enthusiasm, therefore, which will allow us to double the tables and seats on Lungoparma available to the school community and beyond. «How will it come? It’ll be fine!” Simone Androvandi and Tommaso Padovani smile, screwdriver in hand. «The idea was to make it a little different from that of Ulivi – they say -. Together with the Manifattura Urbana association, which has always followed the project, we have made two proposals to be voted on with an internal survey at Romagnosi”.
The waves won, even if only slightly. They will protect and inspire what will be on the other side, above the platform of pallets donated by Immergas: two tables and benches to sit on, resting on the pallets donated by Immergas. Ten meters in length which correspond to two blue striped stalls granted by the Municipality.
There was some controversy, as expected. «We can understand the residents – replies Tommaso -. But otherwise, we all know by now that we need to achieve more sustainable mobility. Especially since this, with the presence of many schools, is an area crowded with pedestrians and the issue of safety exists. Furthermore, we offer a new public space available to anyone.”
«The parklet in front of the Ulivi worked immediately: it is always full, those who go to school appreciate the idea of being able to be together in a place that is not the pavement, and when there are no lessons we often find adults sitting there too», they say in fact some members of the Change Group, Emma Grace Jones, Alessandro Pizzimento, Petra Fazion and Alessandro Miodini. It’s natural to think about a double and think about it with Romagnosi. The collaboration of the two schools on the theme of the environment is strong: it starts with the parklets promoted by the Ulivi teacher Niccolò Vernazza (who also presented the tender thanks to which the “neighbors” received the funds for the materials), continues with the Earth Day initiatives and continues with the project already on paper in the open-air classroom in Piazzale Rondani.
«And it’s a nice message for students, because they understand the power of the network – underline the Romagnosi teachers, Paola Cantarelli and Mariangela Fontechiari -: if you struggle alone, when you’re together you exchange skills and take the courage to take on such great challenges.” Big yes, but when they look at that cone of vision that alternates schools, cars and conquered spaces, girls and boys let out a smile: it’s not difficult to imagine, this avenue alive with only voices, footsteps, seats and tables. “Who knows where we will be that day, but let’s hope it happens.” One piece at a time.
Chiara Cacciani
