Sassari’s Uisp will coordinate “City in Motion”, a project that aims to bring sport and opportunities to get together to the historic center. Among the planned initiatives, the green area around the Rosello Fountain will become an outdoor gym with fitness trails and equipment available for public use, while the gym at San Donato school will also open in the afternoon.
The program was developed by a partnership led by Uisp, which includes the Municipality of Sassari, the San Donato Comprehensive Institute, the Raighinas social cooperative and Auser Tintoretto. Amateur sports associations from the area are also taking part, and others may join during the activities. The school gym will be open to children, families and older people outside school hours.
The initiative mobilizes €371,000: €296,000 comes from Fondazione con il Sud and €75,000 is contributed by the partnership. The president of Sassari’s Uisp, Giampiero Barroccu, explained that the goal is to combat marginalization and promote well-being through free, accessible and non-competitive activities. The project also aims to create opportunities for participation and foster new relationships among residents.
Activities will be aimed at people of different ages and backgrounds. For teenagers, the program includes parkour and skateboarding, street outreach and educational activities, and linguistic and cultural mediation. The project also aims to highlight sports practiced by immigrant communities: one example cited is cricket, which is popular in the Pakistani community. Physical activities at home are also planned for people who are isolated or have difficulty getting around.
Inclusive sports programs are planned in partnership with Uonpia and local social services, along with walking groups, routes to discover the city center and intergenerational initiatives. The program will also include major events, with the aim of promoting active lifestyles and highlighting the identity of the neighborhoods. The San Donato gym is part of a broader effort to focus on community spaces and life, as also described in the article about Piazza San Donato.
Events include the Neighborhood Olympics and the Intergremio Olympics, designed to bring games and sports closer to local traditions. The project also includes courses for multisport coaches, referees and lifeguards, with programs geared toward earning recognized qualifications and certifications and helping young people find work.
“City in Motion” will have a base for coordinating activities and a mobile outpost: the Ludobus, a vehicle equipped to bring games, street sports and entertainment to neighborhoods. Councillor for Planning Giuseppe Masala highlighted the role of co-design with the Municipality; Mayor Giuseppe Mascia identified transforming existing spaces into community hubs as one of the initiative’s goals. The project ranked third among 180 proposals submitted from southern Italy.