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Mayor participates in reopening of Campo de Santana, in the center of Rio
Published on 08/01/2021 - 11:16 | Updated on 08/01/2021 - 11:38
The Santana Field - Beth Santos/City of Rio Rio Mayor Eduardo Paes attended the reopening of Campo de Santana in the city center on Friday morning (January 08). The public access hours of the park have been extended and are now open from 01 am to 6 pm, just like the other 17 parks in the city.
Closed for ten months, the site was returned to the public after a task force composed of different departments and agencies, coordinated by the Parks and Gardens Foundation (FPJ). Upon arrival, the mayor planted a Ficus microcarpa seedling, a tree popularly known as a fig tree.
– We are returning this important space in the city, a historic leisure area, which has been closed for almost a year and which needs to be opened to the public, especially in these times of pandemic, when people have difficulty using public spaces. It is important that people have a space to do their physical activities, and now, here, we serve the population of the Center – said Paes, alongside the deputy mayor of the Center, Leonardo Pavão, and the city's Secretary of the Environment, Eduardo Cavaliere.
The mayor stressed that the reopening of Campo de Santana was only possible due to the efforts of a number of municipal bodies. He also highlighted that efficient management allowed the park to operate again.
– There was no exceptional investment here. It is the existing structure of the City Hall, even in a time of fiscal difficulties, operating focused on the city's priorities. It was a partnership between Comlurb, the Parks and Gardens Foundation, Conservation, SEOP, a group of agencies working to return this quality public space to the population – highlighted Paes.
The site underwent a cleaning operation with 47 street cleaners, received new lighting and reinforcements from the Municipal Guard security team. Located in Praça da República, Campo de Santana is one of the largest green areas (155.000 m²) in the city center.
– It is a great joy to reopen Campo de Santana, a space that summarizes what we want to strengthen: a city connected to its green areas and nature. Urban and natural parks are open spaces and, with the necessary care, represent a better quality of life for the people of Rio – stated Secretary Eduardo Cavaliere.
In Campo de Santana, teams from Parks and Gardens, the Environment (Smac), Public Order (Seop) and Conservation (Seconserva) departments, the Subprefecture of the Center, Comlurb, Rioluz and the Municipal Guard worked together to deliver the park clean, organized and in good condition for use.
– Our goal is to make the city increasingly greener and more humanized – said the president of FPJ, Fabiano Carnevale, who also participated in the event.
New opening hours
The City's Municipal Department of the Environment (Smac) published a resolution in the Official Gazette extending the opening hours of 38 parks in the city, which will now open two hours earlier, at 6 am, and close at 17 pm. Campo de Santana is one of them.
The resolution also establishes new parameters for the use of parks due to the pandemic. According to the Environment Department, the idea is to avoid crowds and encourage outdoor activities with all necessary precautions. Visitors' temperatures will be measured in closed spaces, and anyone with a temperature above 37,8 degrees will not be allowed to enter. Picnics with up to six people who live in the same household are permitted, respecting a distance of two meters between groups.
Also present at the ceremony at Campo de Santana were the State Secretary for the Environment and Sustainability (Seas), Thiago Pampolha, and the President of the State Environmental Institute (Inea), Philipe Campelo.
Users praise the reopening of Campo de Santana
The reopening of Campo de Santana was praised by local residents. If the area was previously
abandoned, with garbage scattered everywhere, it has now been given the proper treatment to welcome back its users.
– It’s really cool here now. They cleaned it up and made it nicer for us to do our exercises. Before, we had to go around the outside of Campo de Santana, running the risk of being mugged – celebrated hairdresser Afonso Camelo.
Elderly caregiver Maria Marli Teixeira also praised the City Hall's initiative. She especially liked the new opening hours, with the gates opening at 6 am.
– This park is beautiful. Now we have more time to walk and stretch. I’m really happy to be back doing my exercises here.
