A seating area, a children's playground and public benches. These were some of the investments made in four neighborhoods of Quarteira, in a decision made by the residents within the framework of the Participatory Budget.
According to Associação Oficina, which coordinated the initiative, the projects in the IGAPHE, Checul, Abelheira and Amendoeira neighborhoods are completed.
Each neighborhood was initially allocated a sum of five thousand euros and there were, over 10 months, clarification sessions.
The winning project at IGAPHE was the creation of a playground and the placement of some public benches, «thus generating a family and convivial space that has been in constant demand».
Next door, at Checul, the allocated budget made it possible to implement a map of the neighborhood and a lounge area, with benches and exercise machines.
As for the map, “it surprised the whole team by its simplicity and foundation”.
According to the participants, the map “appears to respond to a problem felt by the residents, when in emergency situations they have difficulties in communicating to the authorities the exact location of the respective houses”.
For the rest, the map was delivered to all houses and the GNR post, having been placed in the command room and in the vehicles that carry out public patrolling.
In Abelheira and Amendoeira, the creation of a living space, with tables and benches, so that the residents can have an area of fraternization and conviviality, won.
This area «has been surprisingly used, attracting countless families to the place, including for birthday parties, as well as the many children who benefit from the activities developed by Associação Akredita em Ti, based in the neighborhood and partner of the Quarteira Decide project» .
According to the Oficina association, “the reservation with which the residents received the project team in the first clarification sessions gave rise to the satisfaction and reinforcement of the credibility of the entities involved, due to the fact that the commitments assumed were fulfilled”.
The association also highlights the role of young tutors in these three participatory budgeting processes.
«Residents in the neighborhoods and without prior knowledge of this type of initiative, were the hands, eyes and voice of the project with their communities, publicizing the public sessions, mobilizing neighbors to participate and coordinating the voting in one of the projects», it says.
The Quarteira Decide project has the support of the German incubator Civic Europe and is promoted by a partnership made up of the Oficina Association, the Quarteira Parish Council, the Loulé City Council and the Akredita em Ti Association.
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