{"id":63483,"date":"2021-02-25T14:16:57","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T17:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rioonwatch.org\/?p=63483"},"modified":"2021-03-05T15:04:08","modified_gmt":"2021-03-05T18:04:08","slug":"after-long-dispute-green-space-project-100-parque-realengo-is-approved","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rioonwatch.org\/?p=63483","title":{"rendered":"After Long Dispute, Green Space Project ‘100% Realengo Park’ is Approved"},"content":{"rendered":"

Clique aqui para Portugu\u00eas<\/em><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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This is our most recent article in a\u00a0<\/i>series<\/i><\/a>\u00a0created in partnership with the\u00a0<\/i>Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies<\/i><\/a>\u00a0at San Diego State University, to produce articles for the\u00a0<\/i>Digital Brazil Project<\/i><\/a>\u00a0on human rights and socio-environmental justice in the favelas for RioOnWatch.<\/i>
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In August 2020, the residents of Realengo<\/a>, one of the most populous areas of Rio, received extraordinary news in the midst of the pandemic. The Legislative Assembly of the State of Rio de Janeiro, ALERJ<\/a>, finally approved the bill that establishes the certification of the area<\/a> that once belonged to the old Realengo Cartridge Factory<\/a>\u2014in disuse since 1978\u2014as a historic landmark. In this way, the heritage of this large green space, as well as its cultural, historical and ecological value have been recognized, and its protection ensured.<\/p>\n

This is a historical event, since it will be the first ecological park in the West Zone<\/a> of the city, and located in one of Rio’s hottest neighborhoods<\/a>, thus guaranteeing investment in the quality of life of residents over speculative interests. The transformation of this area into a public park has been demanded for over a decade, in a constant struggle that has mobilized residents, activists of ecological collectives, and social and religious institutions, united through different movements such as Ba\u00eda Viva <\/a>(working mainly with Rio’s polluted Guanabara Bay<\/a>), SOS Floresta do Camboata<\/a>\u00a0and Casa Fluminense<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"Parque<\/a><\/p>\n

Leading up to the decision was a public hearing that took place at Castelo Branco University<\/a> in 2018, promoted by ALERJ, responding to constant pressure from organizations like Realengo 100% Green Park<\/a>. This meeting was a turning point in the project since it brought together diverse politicians and civil society representatives. Both groups presented their points of view and laid the foundations for a common agreement that would later culminate in a first draft of the bill creating the park, and presented this to the Urban Policy Commission of Rio’s Legislative Assembly.<\/p>\n