Parco Capoprati
A green oasis worth fighting for

Parco Capoprati is a small green oasis

By Aniko Horvath
november 2008

Between two historic bridges crossing the Tiber – Ponte Duca d'Aosta and Ponte del Risorgimento, not far from the Foro Italico and the Olympic Stadium – is via Capoprati. Here you’ll find the entrance to Parco Capoprati which, thanks to the work of thousands of volunteers, has over the past ten years become one of the quietest and cleanest corners of Rome. But now it faces closure.
It all began when a members and supporters of the environmental association Legambiente set out to clean up a stretch of the Tiber riverbank that over the previous three decades had fallen into a state of abandonment and decay.
It was no simple job of Sunday gardening. The whole area had become hugely overgrown with brambles and impenetrable shrubbery and had to be thoroughly cleared. Small constructions which had crumbled with disuse had to be demolished. More than 30 tons of assorted rubbish of all shapes and sizes that had been dumped on the site was gradually removed.

It was a painstaking process. But now the park is once again flourishing – there are more than 40 different kinds of trees and 25 species of animal life within its boundaries. Every weekend this little green jewel of just over two hectares attracts hundreds of Romans seeking a quiet riverside stroll; or cycle ride – running through the park is the Viale Angelico-Castel Giubileo bicycle path. Bikes may also be hired from a kiosk in the park. In the summer months the park is full of children and the elderly.
But right next to the park construction work is beginning on the Ponte della Musica
(Music Bridge) a 200m bridge for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Tiber that will connect the Olympic stadium and other sports facilities on the west bank in Monte Mario with the Flaminio district and its host of sports arenas and cultural centres including the Auditorium and the new MAXXI contemporary arts gallery.

The risk is that when construction gets fully underway the park will have to be closed to the public – and that the area could once again slide back into abandonment and degradation.
Legambiente is campaigning to save the park. Let’s hope the city council will listen. It’s not enough to talk about environmental policies for the future, we need also to support existing projects.

Information:
http://www.legambientecapoprati.org (in Italian)