Don Tonino Bello Park in Viserba: Rimini’s new green space, combining sport, inclusion and sustainability
A place designed to be enjoyed every day by families, children, sports enthusiasts, older people and local organisations, with the aim of becoming a new hub for the whole community.
A €1.6 million project to transform Viserba
The redevelopment of Don Tonino Bello Park is intended to complete the city’s new sports complex, which has been built around the new municipal swimming pool in Viserba.
The project, which required an investment of approximately 1.6 million euros, has been designed to preserve its historical identity of the park and at the same time to make it more accessible, modern and sustainable.
The aim was to create a space that would bring together sport, leisure, nature and inclusion, offering new opportunities for residents and visitors to come together.
Its proximity to the new municipal swimming pool also helps to create a real a centre dedicated to sport and wellbeing, the only one of its kind in the city of Rimini.
More greenery and less tarmac: an environmental revolution
One of the most interesting aspects of the project concerns environmental sustainability.
Compared with the previous configuration, the following changes have been made: eliminated in addition 7,000 square metres of tarmac, replaced by new green spaces, surfaces permeable and natural systems of rainwater drainage.
This process of ‘unsealing’ the soil now allows for better management of rainfall and helps to to reduce the heat island effect during the summer months.
Rain gardens and drainage systems have also been installed to help the soil absorb water naturally, thereby improving the environmental balance of the entire area.
Over 120 new trees and natural spaces
The redevelopment of the park has also led to a significant increase in green spaces.
Alongside trees, shrubs and new landscaping features, more than 120 new plant extracts, helping to provide shade, improve air quality and make the park a more pleasant place to visit all year round.
The new plantings complement those already carried out as part of the municipal swimming pool project, creating a large green corridor that enhances the entire area.
Outdoor sports for all ages
The new Don Tonino Bello Park has been designed to encourage physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.
Among the main new features is a a 300-metre cycle and pedestrian path, ideal for walking, running, exercising or simply strolling amongst the greenery.
The following have been created for sports enthusiasts:
- a regulation basketball court;
- a court dedicated to baskin;
- five-a-side football pitch;
- a fully equipped fitness area of approximately 100 square metres;
- open spaces for physical and recreational activities.
The presence of the baskin, a sport that enables people with and without disabilities to play together, demonstrates the project’s strong focus on inclusion and accessibility.
The Whale: the symbol of the new park
If there is one feature destined to become the symbol of Don Tonino Bello Park, it is undoubtedly the large Whale.
Situated in the centre of the new 350-square-metre inclusive play area, the structure immediately won over the first children who had the chance to try it out.
It is not merely a visually spectacular game, but a structure designed to be used as children with different physical, cognitive and sensory abilities, encouraging shared play and socialisation.
A barrier-free park
Accessibility is one of the key themes of the entire project.
All areas have been redesigned to remove architectural barriers and ensure easy and safe access for people of all ages and abilities.
Pathways, sports areas, play areas and rest areas have been designed in accordance with inclusive criteria, with the aim of creating a genuine ‘park for everyone’.
Greater security and new services
The regeneration project also addressed issues relating to safety and the quality of life in the area.
The park has been fitted with new street lighting, CCTV systems and clearly marked routes, thanks to modern signage and wayfinding features designed to guide visitors around the area.
There are also rest areas, spaces for socialising and areas dedicated to relaxation, all set amongst the greenery.
A new landmark for the city
The reopening of Don Tonino Bello Park marks more than just the completion of a major urban development project.
It is, above all, the emergence of a a modern, sustainable and inclusive public space which enhances the range of services available in the city and improves the quality of life for residents and visitors.
Thanks to its proximity to the new municipal swimming pool, the sports facilities, the green spaces and the strong focus on inclusion, the park is set to become one of the most popular and much-loved spots in the northern part of Rimini.
Useful information
- Where: Viserba of Rimini
- Alongside: Rimini’s new municipal swimming pool
- Total investment: around 1.6 million euros
- Cycle and pedestrian route: 300 metres
- Fitness area: around 100 square metres
- Inclusive play area: 350 square metres
- Sports grounds: basketball, baskin and five-a-side football
- New trees: over 120 trees and shrubs
- Asphalt removed: over 7,000 square metres
- Accessibility: complete removal of architectural barriers
More than just a park, the new Don Tonino Bello now stands as a model of urban regeneration that places the environment, people and quality of life at its heart. It is a place where sport, nature and inclusion coexist, offering Rimini a modern public space designed for the future.
