The Plenary of the Island Council of Formentera, held this Thursday, has approved the first ordinance regulating the use of urban public parks for the realization of physical activities and sports directed, a pioneering regulation on the island that puts an end to the legal vacuum that existed until now in this area.
The ordinance has gone ahead with the favorable votes of the government team and the abstention of the opposition groups and the non-attached councilor. The text, promoted by the Department of Sports, establishes for the first time a clear framework on where, how and under what conditions can develop activities such as yoga, pilates or stretching sessions in public spaces.
The objective of the regulation is to guarantee the coexistence, the safety of the users and an equitable use of the public space, in view of the increase of this type of activities organized in urban parks. To this end, the ordinance establishes a system of prior authorization, limits groups to a maximum of 12 people and establishes criteria for the responsible use of the spaces.
It also requires organizers to have civil liability insurance and to be registered in the Census of Physical and Sports Activities, and incorporates a sanctioning regime to prevent unauthorized activities, noise nuisance or damage to urban furniture.
The spaces initially enabled for the realization of these activities are the Pitiusas Islands Park, in La Savina; the Frank Jackson Playground, in Sant Francesc; the Ses Bardetes Park and the calisthenics area of the Skatepark, without prejudice that the Consell may expand or revise this list depending on the evolution of the needs.
The Councilor for Sports and third vice president of the Consell, Hugo Martínez, defended the ordinance as “a necessary and common sense measure in the face of the increased use of parks for directed activities” and stressed that the objective is “to order to ensure coexistence, legal certainty and equal opportunities for all professionals and entities”.
Martínez stressed that the regulation “does not restrict the practice of sports, but makes it compatible with rest, children’s play and free use of the parks”, and said that “Formentera is committed to an active and healthy island, but also orderly and respectful of public space”.
The ordinance expressly prohibits the practice of martial arts in public parks, considering that they are disciplines that should be developed in spaces that meet all safety guarantees. In this sense, the Consell makes available to practitioners the municipal sports facilities, such as the Polideportivo Antoni Blanc.
The sanctioning regime contemplates fines of between 100 and 3,000 euros, as well as the temporary suspension of the activity in cases of recidivism or serious risk. The text also provides that the ordinance can be adapted over time, incorporating new spaces or adjusting criteria according to social and sporting developments on the island.
“It is a living ordinance, designed to provide tools and not to put obstacles. If it is necessary to improve it, we will do so by listening to the sector and the citizens,” concluded the councilor.
In the same plenary session, the Island Council unanimously approved a proposal of the GxF group for the adoption of measures to prevent forest fires, as well as the proposal presented by the non-attached councilor Llorenç Córdoba regarding an island strategy of balance between the daily life of residents and tourist activity.
