Largest family park inaugurated
Malta's largest family park was inaugurated this morning at Marsascala.
The park is located on a huge expanse of land near the Inspire facility and Sant' Antnin Waste Recycling pant.
It was inaugurated by the Prime Minister and Resources Minister George Pullicino.
Dr Gonzi said that in the past, good land was turned into landfills. In contrast, through this government, a dump had been turned into a park.
He added that with careful management, waste could be transformed into beneficial uses. He pointed out that the adjacent Inspire Foundation’s swimming pool was being heated for free from heat generated by the WasteServ plant, saving over €30,000 a year.
“Let our children grow up loving our country as much, or even more, than we adults already do.”
The park covers an area of 85,000 square metres and includes Picnic areas, children play areas, Outdoor gym equipment, a Rock-climbing and Abseiling area, two mazes – one tailored for children, a dog park and an amphitheatre.
It will also feature a Water Park, which will open later this year.
A watercourse was created in the Northern part of the Park to address the flooding problems faced by Inspire each year. The capacity of the watercourse is of over 4,200 cubic metres per hour at any one time.
16,000 cubic meters of recycled inert material were used for the capping of the former dumpsite. 3,500 cubic meters of rubble were used for the formation of rubble walls.
5,500 cubic meters of boulders from excavation works at Għallis landfill were used for the rip-rap (foundation) of the watercourse.
Footpath lighting blocks were constructed using a mixture of concrete and recycled glass, for which 50 tonnes of recycled glass were used.
The chapel of Sant’Antnin and a world war two pillboc were restored as part of the project.
The project includes two reservoirs with a total capacity of 1,692 cubic metres, to be utilised for irrigation purposes.
The opening hours of the park are 6.30 a.m. to 11.30 p.m. daily.
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64 Comments
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Pule' Carmel
Feb 24th, 21:49
It is good, but I would not define it as a park, a park has more grass and more trees and less artificialities.
It is not soothing to the eyes and it is in fact a sort of playground or a gym, but not somewher to go to relax and sooth ones eye with greanery and water, and flowers and birds. My wife went to Egypt and there they regard the area between highways as " A Park" to take children!!
Pule' Carmel
Feb 24th, 21:35
The other day I tried to find a patch of grass at Cottonera.Il-foss il kbir is closed,Il-Fortinin is closed with a padlock,the trek from Fortini to DeLaSalle is closed,The treck from SantaLiberataStreet toZabbar along the Cottonera lines,is closed,Il-foss is zghir is closed.All these were open and free to run in when I was young.Poor Cottonera Children, we were much better off, NARTURALLY!
Nazzareno Cortis
Feb 24th, 19:39
Well done---very nice.
Wish 'Gnien Kottonera" looked somthimg like this!!
Quite a very BIG BIG difference!!
Gnien Kottonera ---compared to others------no comparason!!!
A. Mifsud
Feb 24th, 19:10
sadly enough some politically blinded die hards will find any excuse to critisize and moan against good cause. I ve been there and I think its a fantastic place. On such scale its a first for the maltese public. My only hope that security guards are employed 24/7 to safeguard its upkeep.
R. Gauci
Feb 24th, 19:09
Kumbinazzjoni hmistax qabel l-elezzjoni?? Bzar fl-ghajnejn.
Il-progett tal-Bacir Numru 1 ma lahaqx lestih pero, kienet tidher cara li missjoni mpossibbli wara snin ikaxkar saqajh,
emmanuel scicluna
Feb 24th, 19:07
No matter how big and "awesome"this park is, it will allways remind the people of Marsaskala how they were treated and steamrolled over by this government in the Sant Antnin question. This park will be a long lasting monument for Arrogance
Anthony Camilleri
Feb 24th, 20:19
Well said Mr. Scicluna, maybe Wasteserv will at last admit that the plant still stinks of rotten rubbish in the summer despite the €20 million plus referbushment!!
Silvio Mizzi
Feb 24th, 18:13
well done good for south area .......
Dennis Zammit
Feb 24th, 17:55
Very good job . . . WELL DONE.
A small opinion . . . could more zebra crossings with Pelican Lights be installed along the stretch of road outside the park to ensable parents with children to cross this busy by pass?
Charles Massa
Feb 24th, 17:49
Mhux ghal hek inhalsi taxxi!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ftahir ta qabel l elezzjoni wara li South gie minsi ghal dawn l ahhar 25 sena. Kulhadd jaf iroxxu l bzar
JOHN WHITE
Feb 24th, 18:05
Ghaliex qabel kien imfakkar hafna is-south? Issa wara progett bhal dan ghandek xi tgerger ukoll? Kemm kienu jbezzu nies bih dan il-progett tiftakar jigifieri li kien ghal labour dan ma kienx isir
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 24th, 18:38
I pay a lot of taxes that end up in undeserving people's pockets, don't think that this project is something to complain about......ah ok Maltese gemgem
Susan Cassar
Feb 24th, 17:43
Prosit!!!!!!!!!!
joseph azzopardi
Feb 24th, 17:30
Everything is being inaugurated lately,cos the election is at the doorstep. I think that on the 7th of March the gozo/malta tunnel will be opened as well!!!
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 24th, 18:40
Kumment bla sens! Do you think that something like that was done at a snap of a finger? Remove those red blinkers and try to think with a few of the brain cells that you might have in your head
J. Abela
Feb 24th, 17:23
Park taghna lkoll.
R. Cilia
Feb 24th, 17:00
Sabih prosit. Nispera li jzommuh fl-istat li hu illum u li kull min hadem fih , thallas!
Joe Scerri
Feb 24th, 16:56
What a lot of negative comments. This country really deserves to go to hell.
Aaron Vella
Feb 25th, 23:39
Amen
J.C. Borg
Feb 24th, 16:55
Tghid il-buses tal-Arriva jghaddu min hdejn dan il-park??
Min m'ghanudux karrozza tieghu ghandu jkollu c-chance li jgawdieh ukoll.
Silvio Mizzi
Feb 24th, 18:20
Arriva hemm - Route Number: 204 from mater dei to Marsaskala ; Route Number ; 92 from Valletta to Marsaskala..
Joseph Micallef
Feb 24th, 16:47
My idea of a park is a place where there are trees and flowers. I cannot see any trees or flowers here.
Mr Joe Micallef
Feb 24th, 16:43
Symbolises the difference between PN and MLP.
The PN creates quality from the mess left by the MLP!
stephen mifsud
Feb 24th, 16:37
no Shade available at all in this park ... ????
G. Caruana
Feb 24th, 16:18
And Swieqi is next followed by Mdina ditch. Ahdmu ha timpressjonaw!
Lawrence Attard
Feb 24th, 15:33
Minn ghalija Pullicino kien weghed lill PM li sa Dicembru kellu jifthu. Naqa tard u allura.
JOHN WHITE
Feb 24th, 16:13
L-importanti li inti l-ewwel wiehed ghandek park uniku f`malta fejn tista tiehu lil familtek ghal gurnata hemm hekk jekk m`hintiex xi wiehed minn dawk li peress li sar taht gvern nazzjonalista toqod lura milli tmur ghalkemm nispera li m`ghandikx mentalita daqsekk fqira li tahsiba hekk.
Il-bqija better late then never
P Bonnici
Feb 24th, 16:59
December and now, what is the difference? Both political parties do nice things before the election. It's a nice park and I congratulate the government for it.
The PL gave out non-existing jobs at the expense of tax payers.
One of Malta's problems - ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION has been swept under the carpet by both parties.
rita Farrugia
Feb 24th, 17:12
Kumment bla sens habib.
John Micallef
Feb 24th, 15:17
Really nice park! What i didnt like was glass in the soil in the dog park and the people scaring others that it wn be free. Also the opening ours on the leaflet states that it is open till 7:30pm contradicting this article.
J. Pace
Feb 24th, 15:09
Jigri x'jigfri fis-9 ta Marzu, nispera li minn jirbah johrog jiccelebra, jiehu pjacir u ma jkissirx jew ma jinvandalizzax il-hafna tajjeb li hawn madwarna...
Anthony Camilleri
Feb 24th, 15:09
Pity it will have limited use in the summer months with the heavy stench of rotting rubbish coming out of the St Antnin Plant!! Just ask the residents who live in the immediate surrounding area.
A.Felix Busuttil
Feb 24th, 14:07
This week the Prim Minister is going to inaugurate Swieqi new Comples GEBEL U SAQAF
M Farrugia
Feb 24th, 15:24
gerger malta gerger
Mr Joe Cardona
Feb 24th, 16:11
Sur Busuttill insejt u kif ukoll se jaghti l-avviz ta' impieg lil aktar minn 7,000 ruh li se jahdmu gewwa Smart City u mijiet ohra mal-kumpanija tal-Brazil.
Adrian Agius
Feb 24th, 17:38
Sur A. Felix Busuttil, mur ittawwal ftit u erga ejja ghidilna jekk hux gebel u saqaf !
Joseph Sant
Feb 24th, 13:49
Simply awesome. Thanks to whoever took part in this project. I used to go to Ta'qali for something similar, now I got it next door. Keep it up.
Ronald Cauchi
Feb 24th, 13:47
Now lets all rush and picnic next to a Waste Recycling Plant!! Yippee.
S. Cuschieri
Feb 24th, 16:43
Such a stupid comment - sometimes silence is golden!
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 24th, 17:44
This was wasteland- if the plant is properly managed there should be no issue with it
A Dimech
Feb 24th, 13:42
So, I am single and have no kids - can I still use this Park?
Or are the words "family" and "children" loosely used before the election campaign?
thanks
JOHN WHITE
Feb 24th, 16:09
Mr.Dimech,of course everyone can use the park. It doesn`t mean that becuse the park has that name no singles can go and enjoy this wonderful project.
Sharon D'Amico
Feb 24th, 16:49
I think you can still use the picnic area... If you like picnics, that is:)
Mr R.E. Saliba
Feb 24th, 19:34
@ A Dimech
Use the side entrance, there won't be anyone there to stop you and ask for proof of parenthood.
David John
Feb 24th, 13:40
Park sabih imma kumbinazzjoni lejliet l-elezzjoni gie inawgurat.
M Farrugia
Feb 24th, 15:27
mhux ahjar issaqsi kemm ilu ppjanat u kemm ilu jinbena, qabel tohrog tikkumenta fuq xi haga taghna lkoll maltin
Claire Busuttil
Feb 24th, 13:40
at least dogs are let in....not like other public gardens....namely the sliema one....george e pius...
C Cassar
Feb 24th, 16:23
Dogs are only allowed in a special dedicated area, not in the rest of the park. That's how it should be otherwise the park would be full of dog excrement. The parks in Sliema are clean because dogs aren't allowed and that's how it should be.
Ms Maria Vella
Feb 24th, 18:41
Just because dogs aren't allowed (which is idiotic) doesn't mean a place is clean. Humans contaminate surroundings far worse than dogs
C Cassar
Feb 26th, 07:34
Sorry you are wrong. Just take the beach and promenade area in Sliema. Dog excrement everywhere and all caused by local dog owners taking their dogs (unsurprisingly) after dark to do their dirty business on the promenade and beach.
Maltese dog owners are extremely irresponsible and that applies to the majority as can be seen all over Malta.
Banning dogs in the new areas is correct.
JOHN WHITE
Feb 24th, 13:28
Hemm ha ghaliex m`ghandniex inbiddlu ir-rotta u ghaliex ma ghandniex inbiddlu kif jghidu bl-ingliz " Never change a winning team!!"
G curmi
Feb 24th, 18:20
Oh come on Mr White!
X'tippretendi wara 25 sena.
Meta nsiefru kollha nzuru xi gonna jew parks, so Malta m'ghandiex tibqa' lura, u f'kull naqra spazju hemm bzonn kbir ta' parks, gonna etc.
Nitghaxxaq nitla' l-Ingilterra ghax kull zewg passi parks u green areas. Malta vera zghira, imma b'ippjanar naslu ukoll! U l-pets taghna jkollhom fejn igawdu vicin tar-residenzi taghna.
joseph green
Feb 24th, 13:28
Min mizbla ghall l akbar park tal pajjiz , futur fis sod anke fuq l ambjent
Luciano Chetcuti
Feb 24th, 18:08
... u l-ahjar areas ghall-barranin - parti minn Ta' Qali ghall-Amerikani, parti mill-Irnella (suppost Smart City) wkoll ghal barranin. Imma ahna l-Maltin ghal fuq il-mizbla.
Mr Tony Gatt
Feb 24th, 13:24
Since the Marsascala Bypass (the road next to the park) was built I have always thought it one of the nicest roads in Malta. It will complement the park nicely. I must visit the park when I'm next in Malta.
Jo Woodall
Feb 24th, 13:16
And not a tree in sight for shade!!
Chris Sammut
Feb 24th, 13:15
Why the sign infront of the chapel is not in Maltese or both languages ....?
John iNGUANEZ
Feb 24th, 19:14
I agree totally with Mr Sammut. In the publicity we had received it was "Park tal-Familja" and now we see the signage "Family Park". Could you think calling "Park tal-Majjistral" as " North-West Park"???? The mind boggles...... It is such a beautiful park, why not called in its Maltese name>
j brincat
Feb 24th, 13:11
Iiiiii!!!! Ara!
What a coincidence just on the eve of election!
They love photos don't they!
jb
M Farrugia
Feb 24th, 15:26
hemm xi cans tiehu pjacir b'xi haga....imqar darba sur brincat.
JOHN WHITE
Feb 24th, 16:14
Trid tara jafx Sur Farrugia !! Mhux issoltu wiehed minn dawk li ghat-tgergir jiehu in-no 1,warajh hemm siehbu m`hemmx ghalfejn noqod insemmih :)
Chris Borg
Feb 24th, 18:09
hu pjacir bxi haga ghal darba. fkollox trid tikumenta u fkollox fin neggativ. xi trid int biex tihu pjacir ?? knoqodu sejnrin bhalek kieku qatt ma jsir xejn go dal pajjiz. tghallem ikkontrolla naqra ghax issa lil kulhadd dejjaqt. u tibzax kulhadd jaf li int laburist imdejjaq don't worry.
M Cassar
Feb 24th, 19:04
No thanks to Muscat. He was the one who said he'll do his utmost to stop E.U funds for this project.
C Cassar
Feb 24th, 13:06
Fantastic facility but will the Maltese people look after it? Will they throw litter everywhere? What about maintenance, a word that's often missing from the Maltese vocabulary? There is still a huge lack of education on the value of these facilities.
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