Author: Aurora SHPATAJ
On March 17, 2016, the mayor Erjon Veliaj declared that the municipality of Tirana plans to build 11 more playgrounds for children in the capital.
" We don't have to choose between a large playground or small corners in the neighborhoods. We will do both the large corner and the small corners in the neighborhoods, because we believe that we should not spare any opportunity we have for the children of Tirana to have a childhood worth remembering ," said Veliaj.
The municipality of Tirana tells "Sinjalizo" that currently, playgrounds for children have been built in the neighborhoods: "Mine Peza", "Sitki Cico", "Parku i Madh", "Community of Paris", "Allias", "Qemal". Staff", "Japanese Path", "Sports Fields", "Fora Corner 3", "Kombinat", "Surrel". The vast majority of them were built by the municipality of Tirana in cooperation with private companies. The only playground created entirely with the funds of the municipality is "Parku i Madh" with an area of 8127.14 m2, while the areas of the other areas are; "Mine Peza" with an area of 1664 m2, "Sitki Cico" with an area of 1129 m2, "Community of Paris" with an area of 1200 m2, "Allias" with an area of 1408 m2, "Kombinat" with an area of 1030 m2, "Selman Stermasi" with an area of 1200 m2, which were built with 40% from Tirana municipality funds and 60% from private companies. While other playgrounds such as: "Qemal Stafa" with an area of 1570 m2 was built 20% from the funds of the municipality of Tirana and 80% from donors, "Japanese Path" with an area of 4000 m2 and "Sports fields", with an area of 4000 m2 are built with 70% from the funds of the Tirana municipality and 30% from the donor, "Këndi i Forë 3" with an area of 1692 m2 was built with 35% from the funds of the Tirana municipality and 65% from the donor. While the playground "Surrel" is the only playground that was built entirely by donors with an area of 1500 m2.
Referring to the official response of the municipality, the cost for the maintenance of playgrounds from 2018-2022 is 22 million ALL.
" We inform you that the total value for the maintenance of playgrounds, sports fields and fitness centers from 2018-2022 is 22.060.337 lek. We clarify that with the decision of the Municipal Council no. 88, dated 26.07.2017 "On an addition to the VKB no. 41, dated 23.09.2015" the Parks and Recreation Agency was given the function of managing recreational and sports assets, therefore the data on their maintenance are from 2018."
From official sources of the municipality of Tirana, the cost for the construction of these playgrounds from 2015-2022 is 334 ALL.
“ The total value of the construction of playgrounds, sports fields and fitness centers from 2015-2022 is 334,583,735 lek .”
KLSH: The Parks Agency has built playgrounds without standards
According to the citizens, who visit these spaces, they declare that they are far from the conditions they should have to be called sports grounds or playgrounds. One of them is Besimi, the parent of a 5-year-old girl who lives in Kombinat.
" I'm here every afternoon with my daughter because she wants to play. But these are not playgrounds, because to create playgrounds, first of all it has to be green space and not a layer of concrete, like these have done. Here the child can fall and crash into the concrete, and risk having health consequences, so a layer of concrete should not be built ."
Besimi adds that facilities such as benches and other games are built without standards.
" I am an engineer by profession and when it comes to building for a specific age group such as children, certain standards must be taken into account. Most of the games here are built with iron, without a soft seat, or a protector so that the child does not get hurt. The boards that have screws should have had some protectors placed on them so that the children do not get hurt. So these are some very small elements, but which are essentially very important for the child to play in a safe environment ."
But in a report by the Supreme State Audit Office in 2019, it is quoted that " The Parks and Recreation Agency has designed, built and approved playgrounds without standards approved by the Technical Council or the Municipality of Tirana."
The same opinion is shared by "Sinjalizo" Luljeta, the mother of a 7-year-old boy, who says that the facilities that are located here are mostly built with iron, which endangers the safety of children.
" The municipality has done a great job of building playgrounds for children, but they need to build them to standards. My Alteo, for example, is a very active child, and I am very happy with these playgrounds because most of them are made of iron, some are simply placed as decoration, but there are benches, for example, that have screws sticking out and could risk breaking," Luljeta concludes.
This article was created based on input provided by individuals who have chosen to speak up. Share your story, empower others and be an agent for change. Visit the website: www.acqj.al/sinjalizo-dhe-ti/
