Institutional portal - Municipality of Milan

The area, created with the support of UNICEF, is aimed exclusively at children and their carers - Photo gallery

Milan, May 27 2021 – The new area dedicated to the little ones and their carers created in Piazza Luigi di Savoia is called "Garden of girls and boys from all over the world" and has the concrete support of UNICEF. The inauguration took place this morning, on the occasion of the thirtieth anniversary of Italy's ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Children and Adolescents, in the presence of the Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala and together with some pupils from the ICS elementary school Ciresola.

"I am happy that this new area intended for children will be inaugurated today, on the thirtieth anniversary of Italy's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Children and Adolescents - declared the Mayor of Milan Giuseppe Sala -. And I am proud that UNICEF is responsible for the animation of this garden: the play activities that will be offered to children will allow them to discover universal rights, principles and values, helping them to grow as supportive and aware women and men of tomorrow areas near stations are often exposed to situations of degradation and abandonment which make life in the neighborhood difficult. Redeveloping them must be the guiding star for administrators: it is our duty to guarantee our fellow citizens opportunities for socializing and leisure, safely and respectfully. of legality. From this commitment, taken at the table of the 'Cantiere Centrale' project with the neighborhood associations, Municipality 2 and Grandi Stazioni, the 'Garden of girls and boys from all over the world' was born. A commitment that we have made ours and that we intend to honor in the best possible way, to improve the quality of life of those who live and frequent this neighborhood." 

The creation of the new area is the result of the "Cantiere Centrale" listening and sharing table opened some time ago by the Municipality together with the neighborhood associations, Municipality 2 and Grandi Stazioni Retail, which created and financed the intervention with 300 thousand euros of additional contributions , as foreseen by the agreement for the construction of the Central Market in the spaces of Piazza Quattro Novembre. The games that set up the new square and the benches were donated by the Finleonardo group, owner of the Hotel Michelangelo, the structure that hosted Covid patients and people in need of isolation during the first wave of the pandemic.   

“We are very proud of a project that changes the face of the square by putting all children's right to play at the center and helping to regenerate the neighborhood around the station and central station – declares the councilor for urban planning Pierfrancesco Maran -. We wanted to inaugurate the garden today as a symbol of rebirth and hope; with the support of UNICEF, we are taking up the challenge of transforming this space into a place of light-heartedness, but also of spreading universal values ​​and rights among the new generations".   

“Inaugurating the garden today is doubly important: not only is it giving back a space to the neighborhood and the community, but after so much isolation, closure and suffering, it is giving back to children a green space for shared play - underlined Alberto Baldan, CEO of GS Retail - . An important added value for a commitment, ours, which goes beyond the walls of the station. Because we deeply believe in the importance of community, inclusion and networking; necessary intersections to help improve our city every day". 

UNICEF will bring the new garden to life through a series of initiatives aimed at children and families which will aim to raise awareness of the rights of the less privileged children forced to grow up in foreign environments and far from their native place, as well as respect and care for urban greenery and environmental sustainability. The Garden will only be accessible to minors and their companions.   

“May 27 is an important day for UNICEF, this year in particular because it marks the thirtieth anniversary of Italy's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Children and Adolescents – declared Alberto Colorni, President of the UNICEF Provincial Committee- . We are therefore particularly happy with the permanent patronage that UNICEF provides to the garden which is inaugurated today and for which our thanks go to the Municipality of Milan. We hope that the garden, designed for use by boys and girls, will become a place where events and activities can be held that promote the rights of those under 18. In this sense we have been and will be involved: we would like to develop initiatives with girls and boys kids who will experience this place and personalize the garden with their ideas".  

The garden, equipped with a gate, will be open every day from 8am to 20pm.