Social and Integration Laboratory in Pregassona

The area of Via Industria in Pregassona has, in past years, been affected by social situations that have triggered a public reaction, highlighting issues of ghettoization and integration.

The District Commission proposed the project "Social and Integration Laboratory Via Industria", with the aim of redeveloping the area between Via Industria, Via Ceresio, and Via Maggio (see map), focusing on public-private collaboration to create a network of services, promote integration, and encourage different uses of public spaces as well as social cohesion.

The project, which has been coordinated and managed by the Associazione Amélie since June 2020, received financial support from the Swiss Public Utility Society, which appreciated its value.

The "Laboratory" includes the following complementary projects aimed at all segments of the population and the residents of the area identified by the project:

• District and association festival: This event is designed to involve all the residents of the district in activities, shows, and games and features the participation of many associations. It has been held at the Capannone since 2019 and is repeated every year.
   
• Children's and family festival: This event takes place at the playground on Via Industria, and the last edition, in September 2019, saw the participation of numerous children and families.
   
• Gymnastics/Walking for the elderly: This activity is carried out in collaboration with the Associazione ticinese terza età (ATTE) and is aimed especially at the elderly, but also at other people who wish to engage in outdoor physical activities. Meetings take place at the Capannone and at the playground on Via Industria.
   
• Study support: This initiative is aimed at children with learning difficulties from the Bozzoreda Primary School. It relies on the involvement of volunteers, including retired teachers, and takes place in the office of the District Commission.
   
• Summer camp: The summer camp takes place in August in collaboration with the Associazione Kreiamoci.
   

Below are some proposals that would involve families, children, the elderly, people in need, people with disabilities, and asylum seekers:

• Diversification of residents: The aim is to achieve a better distribution and allocation of housing, avoiding the concentration of various social cases within the "skyscraper" on Via Industria.
   
• Playground (A): The playground should be renovated, as already planned, with two new synthetic soccer fields for children and teenagers, a basketball court surface, additional playground equipment for younger children (slide, playhouse, swing, sandbox), benches, a picnic/barbecue area, tables, and a permaculture area.
   
• Socialization center/multi-purpose hall (E/F/G): The space could accommodate children aged 0 to 4 and also be a place for organizing workshops during the winter season. The nursery is conceived as a socialization space rather than a daily childcare service. It could use the structure of the Pension Fund or the old site to be redeveloped.
   
• Workshops (B/F/G): Outdoor activities, which have been very successful in collaboration with Kreiart in Pregassona, could be repeated during spring and summer at the playground, and during autumn and winter, they could be proposed in the "socialization center" space mentioned above.
   
• Shared gardens (C): Creation of spaces for shared gardens to be assigned on request or by involving the inhabitants. The area in question could be located between the playground and the outdoor gym, along the Cassarate trail.
   
• Social worker: The hiring of a social worker who would act as a reference figure for social assistance, organization of activities, potential animation, and development of collaborations with the aforementioned entities and associations.
   
• Equipment (D): The hut located near the outdoor gym could be moved to the playground and reused as storage for outdoor activities, managed by the social worker.
   
• Redevelopment of outdoor spaces: The outdoor spaces around private buildings could be redeveloped (gardens, flowerbeds).
   
• Abandoned spaces (G): At the beginning of Via Industria, there is an area consisting of a small playground and old, dilapidated buildings. Given the proliferation of housing, it is proposed to use these spaces for the creation of nurseries/multi-purpose rooms, in conjunction with the future renovation project planned by the City Council.

Project duration: three years.

The redevelopment of the Via Industria area is a necessity for the district, in order to respond positively to the social discomfort that has characterized it for years.
The District Commission is heavily involved in the development of the area, and this is very important, as it is more familiar with the needs of the territory and can respond more effectively to the needs expressed by the residents.
The role of the other partners in the project should certainly not be underestimated or forgotten: networking for territorial development is undoubtedly fundamental to the success of the project.