The final phase of works is underway on an approximately 7,000-square-metre site bordering Mqabba and Qrendi, known as Tal-Mitħna. The area, which was used as a quarry for many years, is being regenerated through an investment of around €2 million.
Prior to the start of the project, the quarry had also been used for illegal dumping where around 20,000m3 of construction waste. Instead, this quarry is now being transformed into a natural space dedicated to children and families, with 300 trees and more than 3,200 shrubs being planted.
Environment Minister Miriam Dalli visited the site together with representatives of the Mqabba and Qrendi Local Councils and the Project Green team, where they reviewed the progress of the ongoing works and was briefed on the plans for the project. The aim of this project is to strengthen children’s connection with nature while creating a safe, educational and recreational space for the community.
The park will include a number of innovative nature-inspired facilities, including play areas incorporating natural elements, an interactive bug and bee hotel installation, a dog park, a reading corner, a table tennis area, and various features designed to encourage children’s imagination and development.
The project also includes sustainable infrastructure, with an underground reservoir to collect and store rainwater for reuse in irrigating the park. These interventions will not only reduce the project’s environmental impact but will also contribute to the sustainable management of water resources.
Minister Miriam Dalli said the project was another example of the Government’s commitment to transforming degraded land into green spaces that provide tangible benefits to communities. “We are giving a new lease of life to a site that for many years was neglected and is now transformed into a place where children can grow closer to nature in a healthy environment. This is an investment in future generations, in their wellbeing and in the environment we want to leave behind,” Minister Dalli said.
The project’s Project Manager, Andrea Ferriggi, explained that the intervention was designed to offer an experience different from that of a traditional park. “The focus of this project is to make nature part of children’s play. We are therefore integrating natural elements, spaces for exploration and sustainable water-management solutions to create an environment that is not only attractive, but also educational and resilient for the future,” Ferriggi said.
This project is being funded through European funds under the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).
