The 2024 edition of the 2024 edition took place this afternoon at the River Park Sports Festival with the participation of 45 sports associations, stands, demonstrations, competitions and awards with 23 sports specialties who thus had the opportunity to promote their activities among adults and children.
The venue for the event was the renovated Infinity Park inaugurated by the mayor Mario Pardiniby the councilors for sport and public works Fabio Barsanti, Nicola Buchignaniin the presence of the regional councilor Stefano Baccelliof the regional councilor Vittorio Fantozzi.
“We have decided to inaugurate the renovated Infinity Park – the first work of the Pnrr to be completed for an investment of 550 thousand euros – with a great Sports Festival, to underline how important sport is for our administration – he declared Mayor Pardini – Today we also cut the ribbon on the children’s playground created thanks to a contribution of 200 thousand euros from the Region. This green lung will be available to all citizens and is the beginning of a major redevelopment of the River Park. I thank the departments of Sport and public works, the Region, the municipal offices for their commitment, the citizens and associations for their great participation in this beautiful day”.
The area has been divided into a central area identified by the new pedestrian path with ecological paving and two mirrored areas located on the edge. The central area has been equipped with a raised and covered platform with a sail tensile structure which will be used as a stage for shows and events, the area in front has been equipped with seats interspersed with green areas, placed radially in a concentrical manner and characterized by naturalistic forms that recall the typical nature of the river park. The two marginal areas, identified by the new central path, are intended for recreational and social areas for people, with seats, tables and benches positioned on wooden platforms accompanied by green roofs made with iron pergolas and arranged with various tree species that they integrate well into the green system of the park. All the paths in the “Infinity” area have been equipped with lighting which also allows them to be used in the evening and at night. The furnishing works such as platforms and sail tensile structures have a seasonal character and are completely removable.
To the west of Infinity, with funding from the Tuscany Region of 200 thousand euros, a new playground equipped with circular shapes, ecological materials, elementary colors and wooden games was also created to make children’s activities stimulating. The focus of this new area is recreated by a flooring that features a labyrinth inspired by the famous design of the one in the atrium of Lucca cathedral.
“We strongly wanted the Sports Festival at the River Park but in September there will also be the Sports City Day on the Walls, both with the patronage of CONI, the Sport City Foundation and Sport and Health – states councilor Barsanti – sport is culture, aggregation, education and sociality and on this special day in which we inaugurated the works on the Infinity area we want all the people of Lucca to return to discover the River Park and reclaim this green and beautiful space”.
“Two more pieces are added to the River Park Masterplan that we presented in December 2022 – declares councilor Buchignani – a unitary project with an overall vision for the future of the entire area. The redevelopment of the east car park, the Agos green & smart skatepark, the Animal-line and the human-animal relationship spaces (In-Habit project) have already been completed; the next interventions will concern the planting of new trees (500 thousand euros foreseen in the three-year public works plan) and the mountain bike track for which the Municipality has obtained new funding from Agos”.
