“This is the culmination of a journey started a long time ago, now we can finally talk about concrete projects, which I hope to see realized as soon as possible.” As Nerio Zaccariacouncilor for sport of the Municipality of Merano today, 26 June, on the occasion of the first meeting of the Joint Committee ofracecourse Merano will be responsible for organizing the future projects of the structure.
The last formal step, ratified on May 28th by the president of the Province of Bolzano, Arno Kompatscher, and by the mayor of Merano, Dario Dal Medico, had laid the legal foundations for the project to modernize and relaunch the Maia plant which involves an investment of approximately 21 million euros. However the first session of the table appointed by the provincial council was awaitedwith the technicians who will implement the relaunch plan, to officially start the project.
The joint committee is made up of two members of the Province, Daniel Bedindirector of the Department of Public Works and Heritage Enhancement e Andrea Segadirector of the East Building Office and two members appointed by the Municipality of Merano, the lawyer and vice-president of Merano Galoppo, Clara Martoneand the business consultant, Richard Stampfl.
“This table should be used for best manage the future vision of this important and historic facility” underlined today Christian Bianchi, councilor for Public Works and Heritage Enhancement, explaining that “the joint committee has carte blanche with respect to the project proposals relating to the racecourse of the future. We need to think big, with the aim of giving glory and prestige to this important facility for the city of Merano”.
In June 2023, the Provincial Council authorized the President of the Province, Arno Kompatscher, to sign the exchange plan which provided for the acquisition of 60 percent of the shares of the Hippodrome. This declaration of intent signed between the Autonomous Province of Bolzano and the Municipality of Merano provides for the redevelopment of the racecourse and the exchange of properties. “We composed a team of technicians and experts with great competence, experience and professionalism; we are sure that they will give the desired relaunch to the racecourse. The strategic document they will produce, also in collaboration with sector experts and with the supervision of the councils, will be of great importance for the future of Maia”, explained the mayor of Merano Dario Dal Medico.
The initial investment for a structure that will place Merano at the center of the European context amounts to 21 million euros. Clara Martone, vice-president and member of the board of directors of Merano Galoppo, recalled that “the interventions must not limit equestrian activity. We are talking about a structure that brought prestige to the city of Merano, thanks to horse racing. Any intervention will be possible where it makes it possible to continue this activity, perhaps improving it and giving it even more useful spaces”.
