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Rio City Hall launches Parques Cariocas program
Published on 08/04/2024 - 11:34 | Updated on 08/04/2024 - 13:07
Garota de Ipanema is one of the parks that are part of the first batch - Archive/City of Rio Last week, Rio de Janeiro City Hall, through its Department of Environment and Climate (SMAC), launched the Parques Cariocas program, a municipal initiative that aims to invest in and revitalize the city's urban and natural parks. The proposal is to create a renovation schedule for existing parks; launch a unified visual identity; create a concession program; and continue the ongoing construction of new green areas, such as: Parque Carioca da Pavuna, Parque Realengo Jornalista Susana Naspolini, Parque Rita Lee, Parque Cesário de Melo and Parque Piedade. All parks will continue to be public and free of charge. The program seeks to attract more services, more comfort and cultural options to the population.
More than 20 parks are part of the studies for the creation of the program that will seek support from the private sector. Six of them – those with the greatest concentration of visitors and attractiveness – will be the anchors of the project. They are iconic parks in the city, such as Parque Madureira, Tom Jobim, Nelson Mandela, Marapendi, Dois Irmãos, Quinta da Boa Vista and Parque do Flamengo. Parques Cariocas is focused on the renovation and maintenance of existing parks. New parks under construction will not be included at this time. The investment in the creation of these six new leisure areas in the city is R$400 million.
The program will be implemented in lots that will combine an anchor park with some smaller parks, the so-called satellites. The winning concessionaire of each lot will have to invest in and manage all the green areas selected by the City Hall for each park package. The first lot has an estimated investment of R$70 million and includes the Madureira, Dois Irmãos, Garota de Ipanema, Parque da Cidade, Orlando Leite and Pinto Teles parks.
The then municipal secretary of Environment and Climate, Tainá de Paula, explained that the proposal is to transform the parks into leisure centers for the entire population and, mainly, for people who live close to the facilities.
– The main objective of this initiative is to provide visitors with a quality and comfortable experience. These improvements will increase the number of visitors, as well as generating new jobs and economic development for the region – projected Tainá de Paula, who had to leave her position last Friday because she will run in the October elections.
The program provides for a bonus from the City Hall to the concessionaire that prioritizes employees who live in the park's surroundings as a way of encouraging the local economy. The main investments to be made in the parks are general renovations, adaptation of kiosks, buildings, sports and event areas, as well as new interventions in restaurants, activation of unused spaces and organization of commerce and services. BNDES was hired to structure and model the project.
Two other parks have already been granted during this administration: Parque da Catacumba and Jardim de Alah. The private investment in these two contracts is over R$120 million. In addition, a bidding notice will be published this semester for the concession of the Bosque da Barra and Chico Mendes parks, with an estimated investment value of R$30 million.
Schedule
At the end of April, the Environment Secretariat will launch a public consultation on the first batch of concessions for six parks. After this first stage, a public hearing will be scheduled to discuss the issue with the public. In June, the bidding notice will be published for companies interested in participating in the first batch.
