The ghost island of the Venetian lagoon is saved and will become an urban park! In Poveglia the citizens won against tourist speculation

Povegliain the South Lagoon of Venicehas returned to the center of attention thanks to the civic commitment of an association that has fought for over a decade for save her from real estate speculation. From the August 1stin fact, the North Island – a portion of about seven hectares – It will be officially managed by Poveglia for everyoneAssociation born in 2014 in response to the attempt of the state to sell it to private individuals.

When the Demanio agency put the island at auction for one ninety -ninety concessiona group of Venetian citizens reacted launching a crowdfunding campaign which rapidly collected 460 thousand euros. Although the auction was initially won by a private company, it was then canceled for incongruity of the offer. From that moment, the group has never stopped.

A civic garrison against the privatization of the lagoon

For years, the association has continued to keep the presence on the island alive, promoting environmental care interventions, cleaning and maintenanceOften self -financing and paying daily concessions. In the absence of public services, Poveglia has remained accessible only by private means.

Over time, the mobilization has turned into a real Exercise of participatory democracyalso involving others 40 associations and keeping the link with the territory. The result? A community cohesive and united by the vision of a different future for the Venetian lagoon.

A laboratory of participation and sustainability

With the Official concession of six years to a symbolic canon of a thousand euros per yearthe island becomes in all respects a Urban common good. The first step will be the construction of a pier to ensure accessibility and start the project of urban parkalready ready in its executive version.

A research project of the Department of Human Sciences of the University of Verona, in collaboration with the Association and the State Property, will evaluate the impact of the community management of the island from a social, environmental, cultural and economic point of view. But poveglia for everyone does not stop there: now also focuses on the south islanddetermined to contrast any future privatization attempt.