The Pratone Parella, an area originally designated in the General Regulatory Plan as “Green and Services” and potentially subject to development, became the focus of civic mobilisation from 2019 onwards. Following proposals for construction projects, including a Palavolley arena and later student housing, local residents organised to protect the meadow, recognised by the community as a common good. The “Salviamo i Prati” Committee coordinated advocacy efforts, created support networks, and developed legal strategies. In September 2021, the Committee launched a popular initiative supported by 2,200 signatures demanding the area remain non-buildable. A year later, the City Council formally approved the request, beginning the process to integrate this permanent protection into the General Regulatory Plan.
After safeguarding the green space, the community proposed a Collaboration Pact with the municipal administration to co-manage the Pratone as a common good. The Pact establishes voluntary care and regeneration activities led by residents, environmental activists, and associations, supported by municipal tools, consumables, and technical assistance. Periodic meetings with the administration allow for co-design of new initiatives and enhancement of ongoing actions.
Pratone Parella exemplifies civic activism and the right to the city, fostering participatory practices, community empowerment, and social inclusion. Refugees, students, and diverse residents actively contribute to care and programming, generating social bonds and neighbourhood animation. The Pact also introduces institutional innovation, creating a horizontal, collaborative governance model for the co-management of urban commons and demonstrating how civic spaces can serve as laboratories for democratic participation and collective stewardship.
