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The renovated park in Pisa’s San Marco district inaugurated thanks to the commitment of the Magistratura San Marco, Toscana Aeroporti and the Municipality of Pisa
Pisa, 2 July 2025 – The renewed Cesare Balbo Park was officially inaugurated today in the San Marco district of Pisa, in the presence of Filippo Bedini, Councillor for Historical Traditions of the Municipality of Pisa; Federico Barraco, Director of Communications and External Relations at Toscana Aeroporti; and Massimo Cioli, Magistrate of the Magistratura San Marco.
The redevelopment project – significantly titled “Insieme si può” (“Together we can”) – was promoted by the Magistratura San Marco in collaboration with Toscana Aeroporti and the Municipality of Pisa. Its aim was to return the park to the community as a more welcoming, better maintained, and safer space suitable for people of all ages. The initiative seeks to reinforce the park’s role as a place for meeting, play and socialising for families in the neighbourhood.
Thanks to the cooperation between institutions and the private sector, the park has been completely reimagined: new play equipment for children has been installed, along with a covered area with a gazebo, new benches, and picnic tables – including options accessible to people with disabilities.
One of the most distinctive elements of the project is the enhancement of the park’s natural space: the internal grove has been cleared and turned into an educational botanical trail, with signage identifying various plant species. This serves as an educational tool for nursery and primary schools, encouraging children to learn about biodiversity and respect for the environment.
Cesare Balbo Park – also known as Parco della Campana – has long been a key point of reference for the neighbourhood. Regularly visited by children, teenagers and families, it frequently hosts after-school activities and community events. This redevelopment further strengthens its role as a central hub of community life.
The works were completed in just a few months, thanks to the effective collaboration between all parties involved. The project represents a virtuous example of attention to the common good.
The park’s redevelopment is part of Toscana Aeroporti’s Integrated Plan, designed to enhance the local area and strengthen ties with the community. The initiative was selected and shaped through a participatory process involving different internal departments, resulting in a tangible project aligned with the real needs of citizens – one that improves the livability and quality of urban spaces.
“Supporting projects like this means making a real contribution to the well-being of the communities in our region,” stated Toscana Aeroporti. “Cesare Balbo Park is an important point of reference for the San Marco district, and we are proud to have contributed to its redevelopment – making it more accessible, safer and inclusive. It’s a way to give back to the territory, promoting social cohesion and quality of life. This intervention is part of our ‘Community’ Strategic Pillar, which focuses on environmental, social, and infrastructural projects that generate a positive impact for local communities.”
“With this initiative, we have made an already well-loved green area even more welcoming and functional, enriching it with new features designed to meet everyone’s needs – including people with disabilities,” said Filippo Bedini, Councillor for Historical Traditions and Local Identity of Pisa. “It is a concrete example of successful cooperation between public institutions, key local organisations such as the Magistrature of the Gioco del Ponte, and the business world – all working to improve quality of life in our neighbourhoods. I would like to thank the Magistratura San Marco and Toscana Aeroporti for their generous contribution, which allowed us to equip the park with high-quality furnishings. The Municipality supported the installation costs and ensured safety and regulatory compliance. The educational value of the area is also noteworthy: the small grove, maintained by Legambiente Pisa, now becomes an outdoor learning space for environmental education activities, especially aimed at younger generations. The commitment of the Magistratura San Marco to its local area is a shining example of how the Gioco del Ponte can have a positive, year-round impact on the life of the Pisa community.”
“As Magistrate, and on behalf of the entire Magistratura, we are proud and happy to have completed a project that grew from the grassroots, sparked by the initiative of local residents,” said Massimo Cioli, Magistrate of the Magistratura San Marco. “This result was made possible by constant interaction with the local community, the great support of Toscana Aeroporti – who backed us from the beginning – and the contribution of the Municipality of Pisa in the final implementation phase. I would like to thank everyone for the successful outcome of this initiative, with the hope that all who use the park will fully enjoy and appreciate the improvements.”
