A Proposal For The Constitution Of A River Park In Volla (Naples, Italy)

This studyrepresentsan alternativeto the newGeneralCommunalPlan for Naples (editedin 1999),whichplans the creationof a naturalpark in Naples’oriental area; the practicabilityof this plan is in doubt,while a natural river park could be easily instituted a little above,in the territoryof VollaMunicipality, Vollaplain, a strip of plain sited betweenNaples and Vesuvius,was in the past ploughedby the waters of river Sebetoand by many other watercourses;it presented all the typical aspects of a swamp,and especially a great floral and faunal richness and variety.After reclaimingoperationsperformed over centuries it has completelylost its originalaspect,mostlyin the last 50 years, becauseof the quick and absurdurbanizationof the orientalNeapolitanhinterland, the partial industrializationof traditionallyrural landsand most of all because of huge water extraction fromthe subterraneansourcesandaquiferswhichfed the water courses of the plain. Neverthelessthe site still keepsmanyelementsof an environmentaland cultural value that wouldbe worth preservingand improvingfor a sustainabledevelopment of the area: typical cultures(vegetables),traditional and historical buildings (mostlyfarmhousesbut also someremarkablemonuments)and watercourses(four in total). This proposal provides for the promotion and the exploitation of the area beyond the sustainabledevelopmentprinciples, with the creation of a park along the still existing water courses and the reintroduction of the original flora and fauna,the restorationof the historicaland traditionalbuildings used for receptive, tourist and recreational activities, and the improvementof the local productive activitiesintroducingmarkets,fairs and village feasts.