L’Horta also joins ecological urban gardens

The neighborhood of l’Horta in Benidorm will have new ecological urban gardens in the rural area of ​​Camí de la Parva. The project, which, in a first phase, will have 50 plots, will be possible thanks to l’Escola d’Ocupació Et Formem Benidorm II, which has the support of the Valencian Employment and Training Service (LABORA), and the European Social Fund.

The councilors of Citizen Participation, Ana Pellicer; Employment and Local Development and Environment, Mónica Gómez; Public Space, José Ramón González de Zárate; and the municipal agronomist, have held a meeting this morning with representatives of the Association of Neighbors of l'Horta and urbanizations in the area, to explain the initiative and request their collaboration in the project as one of the activities more of the campaign ' At street level'.

Ana Pellicer has recorded the "good reception among the neighborhood entities" that have had the ecological urban gardens set up by the City Council in Els Tolls (Italia street) and La Cala (Secretario Juan Baldoví street), a total of 74 plots "Which will be increased by 50 more when those of l'Horta are awarded".

The councilor for Citizenship Participation recalled that "there are many associations and groups that have incorporated urban ecological gardens into their activities, such as the social associations that have their headquarters in Pepita Esperanza Llinares Llorca municipal center." These ecological spaces "are a collaborative space for coexistence, encourage participation and also allow the practice of physical and healthy exercise."

However, given the special characteristics of the neighborhood, away from the hustle and bustle of the big city, “we want this space to adapt to the needs of the residents”, that is why the meeting has been called “from which they have already left –he underlined- proposals interesting that have already been transferred to the Municipal Technical Services for study and evaluation.

For her part, Mónica Gómez, has clarified that the project Installation of Urban Garden in the Camí de la Parva Rural Area, through l'Escola d'Ocupació Et Formem Benidorm II, "will occupy a plot of approximately 8,500 m²" and is "A mixed program of employment and training" that will not only provide the city with one more green area, but also "will allow employing ten people with difficulties in finding a job, or belonging to vulnerable groups", for a whole year.

The people who participate in the project "receive - he underlined - the minimum interprofessional salary and will develop the activity for a whole year", so it has been advanced that the delivery of urban garden plots will take place next year.

Once the neighborhood proposals are incorporated into the project and Et Formen ends, the application period for urban gardens will open. "They will be able to access - Gómez stressed - people registered in Benidorm and associations registered in the municipal registry." Although as many people may request them, "those over 65, the unemployed or those with functional diversity will have priority." The allocation of the plots will be done by lottery.

The campaign ‘A pie de calle” will move next week, as always on Thursday, to Vía Emilio Ortuño, next to the old house of road workers. In addition to the representatives of the City Council, the Neighborhood Council, the Garden-Saladar Neighborhood Association and all those who so wish will participate. The appointment will be at 9.30 in the morning.