The newly restored Sant’Antnin chapel, which was first erected in 1676.A shaggy-haired Shetland pony rubbed its nose against a little girl’s hand in the equestrian area as families wandered round the other attractions on offer at the newly opened Sant’Antnin family park in Marsascala yesterday.
The recreational park, flanked by Inspire Foundation’s complex and the Sant’Antnin waste treatment plant, is spread over 80 tumuli of land.
The area was used as a dumpsite during the 1970s. A €7 million project that included rehabilitation and upgrading works, co-financed by the EU, turned the landfill into a leisure park, employing 250 people in the process.
Speaking at the inauguration yesterday, Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi said that a five-year legislature was enough to turn good land into a dumping site, as had happened in the past.
“In five years, however, we managed to transform a landfill into good land,” he said, to loud applause.
With careful management, he added, one could also make good use of waste. He pointed out that Inspire’s swimming pool was being heated for free from the energy generated by the adjacent waste treatment plant, saving over €30,000 a year.
Resources Minister George Pullicino said another €28 million would be invested so that the landfill sites of Magħtab and Qortin in Gozo would also be rehabilitated into family parks.
“I remember the year 2005, when I had offered to visit Marsascala. Among the shouting and the insults, I attempted to say the words ‘trust us’. We have created green jobs and improved the quality of the sea and the air we breathe.
“This family park is a gift from the heart to our children.”
The park caters for different ages, with a toddlers’ and children’s play area also equipped with facilities for disabled children.
An amphitheatre with a seating capacity of 450 people sits atop the hill, close to the newly restored Sant’Antnin chapel, which was first erected in 1676.
The park is dotted with picnic areas that enjoy stunning bird’s-eye views of Marsascala as well as a rock-climbing and abseiling area.
There is a dog park, two mazes (one tailored for children), outdoor gym equipment and a five-a-side football pitch. A water park will be opened later this year.
Stables were used by horses brought over from the Police Mounted Section especially for yesterday’s open day.
An authentic World War II pillbox located in the park’s grounds was open for the public.
Members of the Malta Command re-enactment group equipped the guard post with original rifles, uniforms and other materials.
Tonnes of recycled inert material were used to cap the dumpsite and the lighting blocks lining the footpaths were built from a mixture of concrete and recycled glass.
A watercourse was built in the northern part of the park to address the flooding problems faced by Inspire each year.
The park is open from 6.30am to 11.30pm daily.