Is Arenas is preparing for a makeover. The city council has adopted the technical and economic feasibility study for the Integrated Area Plan, which reorganizes the area around the sports center on Via Beethoven, a stone's throw from the stadium.
At the heart of the project are three parking lots, with a total of 679 spaces. The main parking lot is Parking A, with 256 spaces, including 16 for disabled people. Centrally located with respect to the fields, it is designed for constant use throughout the week and features a dedicated area for electric charging. Completing the system are Parking B, with 75 spaces, and Parking C, the largest, with 348 spaces. All areas will be equipped with lighting, rainwater collection, and drip irrigation for the greenery.
But it won't just be parking. During sports events, the parking lots will serve spectators and patrons, while on other days the same spaces will host the market, currently located on Via della Musica, with a positive impact on traffic. The transition from parking to market space will be quick and easy, with water and electricity stations, including for the food stalls with refrigerated counters. In the market scenario, 141 parking spaces will be created, while maintaining 256 parking spaces.
Next to the parking lot, a skate park of approximately 5,300 square meters will be built, designed for teenagers and young adults.
The new area could also function as a park-and-ride for those leaving their cars and reaching the beaches by public transport.
During the redesign of the area, the structure intended for the Road Safety Education Center was eliminated. "We redefined the entire area," explains Public Works Councilor Antonio Conti, "eliminating the structure intended for the Road Safety Education Center, which was no longer consistent with the planning. This building was originally intended to also serve as a stop for a hypothetical surface subway system, now superseded by the Sustainable Mobility Plan."
The total cost is nearly €8 million. Adoption of the project is a prerequisite for requesting an Environmental Impact Assessment from the Regional Department of the Environment and accessing funding already provided by the Regional Department of Public Works. "These projects are planned as part of urban services," Conti explains. "We are confident that the extensive report submitted will be deemed sufficient. Approval would guarantee the Municipality's approval of the executive project and would pave the way for the development of the entire area, with a relatively short completion timeline."