City Hall inaugurates Bosque Dona Ivone Lara in Engenho de Dentro

The Dona Ivone Lara Forest, the first phase of the Nise da Silveira Urban Park in Engenho de Dentro, was inaugurated this Saturday (26/03) by Mayor Eduardo Paes and the Municipal Secretary of the Environment, Eduardo Cavaliere. The new leisure space in the North Zone, with six thousand square meters, will help mitigate the heat and bring great health benefits to residents of a region with a deficit of green areas. In addition to creating the forest, the R$1 million investment includes the demolition of 400 meters of walls, which were replaced with railings.

– Today is the first phase of a much larger project. We will have the largest leisure area in the Greater Méier region. The population needs to feel like they own the public space, because that way they will take better care of the equipment. This is a good example of an ideal space for taking a walk, for a date or to have a samba circle under this mango tree. This is the great asset of our city, which gives rise to people like Dona Ivone Lara, the first woman to win the samba contest of a samba school, an immortal who always makes us sing her unforgettable songs – said Mayor Eduardo Paes.

The spaces at Bosque Dona Ivone Lara were designed to provide different activity options, such as picnics, children's recreation and outdoor exhibitions, as well as visits to the gardens and walks. 39 fruit trees from the Atlantic Forest were planted, which will attract birds, in addition to 298,60 m² of shrubs, 528,38 m² of forage plants and 1.470,20 m² of grassy area.

– This is yet another commitment fulfilled by the City Hall. With the forest, we are knocking down walls to open up a green area in a region with a huge deficit of living space. It is an honor to fulfill this long-standing demand of residents – said the Municipal Secretary of the Environment, Eduardo Cavaliere.

Statues to honor Dona Ivone Lara and Nise da Silveira

The forest will be open daily from 7 am to 20 pm. During the event, two statues were also unveiled, one of Dona Ivone Lara and the other of Nise da Silveira, so that visitors can admire the space and record the moment. Dona Ivone Lara, a samba icon who died in 2018, dedicated most of her life to public health, having studied nursing and worked at the Engenho de Dentro Psychiatry Institute.

– It is a great joy for my family that the City Hall has taken the initiative to create this forest in a place where my grandmother worked for so many years, treating many patients as a nurse and social worker. She left a legacy for all of us. This tribute makes her name increasingly recognized for everything she did for the culture of our city – said André Lara, the composer’s grandson.

The Nise da Silveira Park, a project that encompasses the Bosque Dona Ivone Lara, is located between the streets Ramiro Magalhães, Bernardo, Dois de Fevereiro and Doutor Leal, and its creation was defined in decree 49.407, of September 14, 2021. Conceived by the Rio Heritage of Humanity Institute, in addition to offering leisure and contemplation, the park preserves the memory and history of psychiatric treatment in Brazil, in which Dr. Nise da Silveira played a special role.

Resident praises City Hall initiative

Lucilene Costa da Silva, a local resident, took her daughters Fátima Evellyn, 8, and Manuela, 4, to visit Bosque Dona Ivone Lara. She said that from now on, the leisure space will be part of the family's schedule.

– This area was abandoned, with a lot of dirt and animals running around. This playground is great for children to play. My daughters spend the whole week studying and now they will have a space, with new toys, to have fun on the weekends.

The inauguration event of Bosque Dona Ivone Lara also featured the Santa Muda Project, from the Department of the Environment, which distributed seedlings of native trees from the Atlantic Forest; the Showdog from the Municipal Guard; and the participation of representatives of the Velha Guarda do Império Serrano.

 

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March 26th, 2022

Appointments: Dona Ivone Lara Forest toys Inside Mill Lazer environment Mayor Eduardo Paes City Hall of Rio