The abandonment of the Belvédère park in Agadir and the question of maintaining the project is renewed

This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:

This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:

Heba Press – Abdel Latif Baraka

Agadir Belvedere Park is one of the city’s important environmental and tourist attractions, as it provides an outlet for residents and visitors, and its history dates back to the French colonial period. However, in recent years this park, which was under the control of local authorities and authorities, began to fall into a state of serious neglect, despite great efforts to renovate it.

In 2019, a huge budget was allocated for a complete renovation of the park, adding new facilities and maintaining some green spaces in order to improve the environmental atmosphere and make it more attractive to visitors. But the surprise was that the park quickly returned to a state of deterioration and neglect shortly after its opening. Yellowing trees, neglected areas and damaged toys are among the most notable manifestations of this deterioration.

Project maintenance: where has the interest disappeared?

Through this matter, the most important question arises: why are the facilities for which billions have been spent on renovation not maintained? The answer lies partly in the lack of sustainable maintenance planning, as many projects in Moroccan cities suffer from poor follow-up after the completion of renovation phases. It is not enough to complete the renovation or reconstruction process; Rather, there must be a mechanism to ensure the long-term sustainability of these projects.

The state of Belvedere Park highlights maintenance problems in Moroccan cities in general, as public spaces are often neglected after renovation, either due to lack of resources allocated to periodic maintenance or lack of management effective supervision of these projects.

Project management and budget allocation: is there accountability?

Certainly, part of the responsibility lies with the actors responsible for managing local affairs in Agadir, from the municipal council to the relevant government agencies. The inability to allocate sufficient budgets for regular maintenance or the lack of on-the-ground monitoring of garden renovation projects and public facilities contribute to the deterioration of the situation. In addition, the lack of coordination between the different actors complicates the question of rapid intervention to respond to problems that could arise.

Environmental and social challenges: what next?

In addition to administrative challenges, there are environmental and social challenges that arise in this context. Added to the abandonment of Belvédère Park are problems linked to environmental pollution and the lack of effective solutions for managing waste or maintaining the cleanliness of public spaces. This deterioration is not only limited to the aesthetic aspect of the park, but also extends to its negative impact on the environment and citizens.

Furthermore, this neglect reflects a general feeling of social irresponsibility with regard to public facilities, which directly affects citizens’ relationship with these places and the way in which they treat them. In the absence of community control, neglect increases and negative practices spread, transforming these parks from places of entertainment and recreation into sites exposed to environmental and social risks.

Possible solutions: towards sustainable conservation

To ensure that renovation projects are sustainable and provide ongoing benefits, elected councils must adopt an integrated approach to maintenance management. Among the possible solutions:

Allocate clear budgets for maintenance: Separate and specific budgets should be allocated for the maintenance of parks and public facilities after their renovation, which will ensure the sustainability of projects in the long term.

Encourage community partnerships: Cooperation between local authorities and civil society can be strengthened through partnerships aimed at monitoring the condition of parks and working towards their collective maintenance.

Quality control and good management: It is necessary to adopt a strict control system that monitors the quality of work carried out in renovation projects and assesses the actual maintenance needs. As well as awareness and awareness.