At the Trento Festival of Economics, a panel titled “Regenerating places to regenerate communities: the care of common goods as a tool for participation” emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between administrations and citizens to create common goods that benefit the community.
Teresa Pedretti, partner of Collettivo Campomarzio, discussed the participatory path of Super Trento and how they designed the surface freed by burying tracks between Scalo Filzi and Muse. She stressed the need for coordination and capitalization on the implementation process of common goods.
Eugenio Petz, head of Participation and Active Citizenship Office in Milano, talked about using “collaboration agreements” as an administrative tool to promote co-planning with interventions inspired by active citizenship. He highlighted the importance of involving citizens who live in and know an area in decision-making processes.
Renato Quaglia, general director of FOQUS Fondazione Quartieri Spagnoli di Napoli, shared an example of urban recovery in Naples where a large empty monastery was transformed into a vibrant space with new cooperatives, entrepreneurial activities and educational programs. He emphasized on public-private partnerships’ importance in urban regeneration efforts.
Despite successes in urban regeneration challenges remain to be addressed. Quaglia highlighted that regenerative experiences should be integrated into public policies to ensure their sustainability and impact. He also stressed civic organizations’ role in driving civil commitment and promoting collaborative efforts for communities’ betterment.