The Tourability project, aimed at making Sicily accessible to people with disabilities, reached an important milestone with the inauguration of the Beteyà Park on 29 June at Plaia di Catania, in the Colonia Don Bosco. This inclusive adventure park offers six routes of varying difficulty, accessible walkways, an area dedicated to people with disabilities, climbing and a children’s tree village, ensuring nature adventures for all visitors. For people with disabilities, entry will be free for the first 3,000 visitors and will subsequently be regulated.
Tourability and accessibility project
Beteyà Park is part of the Tourability project, financed by the Department of Family, Social and Labor Policies of the Sicilian Region and by the Presidency of the Council of Ministers. This project aims to improve the accessible tourist offer in Sicily, including the adaptation of 10 beaches to guarantee access to the sea for all. Among the beaches affected are those along the Plaia di Catania and the Mondello coast in Palermo.
Agostino Sella, president of Don Bosco 2000 and leader of Tourability, emphasizes the importance of offering barrier-free experiences in a territory that is very popular with tourists. The Archbishop of Catania, Luigi Renna, highlighted the need for dedicated resources to improve accessibility, while Don Giovanni D’Andrea emphasized how the park represents a metaphor for life facing different challenges.
Next steps and goals
Francesco Cauchi, advisor of the project, explained that the project aims to fill the accessibility gap, offering not only infrastructure but also workshops and internships for people with disabilities. Maria Letizia Di Liberti added that more than 150 inclusive playgrounds have been funded in Sicily, with Beteyà Park representing a significant step forward. The park is seen as a model of interaction and inclusion, as also stated by Imam Abdelhafid Kheit.
Bruno Brucchieri, Councilor for Family and Social Inclusion of the Municipality of Catania, assured that work is being done to make all the public buildings in the city accessible. The vice prefect of Catania, Sebastiano Fabio Plutino, underlined the importance of the right of access to the sea and the employment inclusion of people with disabilities and migrants to enrich the community. Antonio Scavone, former regional councilor of the Family, recalled that the project is the result of a journey started with residual resources from the tourism sector and achieved thanks to synergies, passion and commitment.
