It is a typically left-liberal feature of Budapest's city administration that they try to divert attention with vigorous PR activities, shouting about their impotence, their constant slippage, and suspicious purchases. A gem among the cheeky, youthful and very "cool" projects is Rakpart2021, "the city's new, super cool temporary park between Kossuth Lajos tér and Lánchíd" from June 18 to August 15. It will be one month this weekend...
According to the Budapest Brand Nonprofit Zrt. Énbudapestem social page, run by Csaba Faix, "this is the time to freely use Rakparto, which has been freed from vehicular traffic due to the constructions", "using various urban planning tools together with the city residents, we will try and show how to use a public space cast in concrete, as we are used to in everyday life".
"Instead of a freeway (??? - ed.), a walkway, we will give the quay back to the townspeople," they wrote. And what they were tempted with: asphalt painting, flower boxes, sunbeds, picnic tables. However, it was announced that there will be no commercial activities, and events are also not allowed.
"Slow down and let go of the week's fatigue in the heart of the city", they encourage, but in response to the question, designer street furniture sitting on the asphalt heated up in the hottest months of summer, as well as plants in flower boxes sweltering in the hot sun, among them - perhaps left over from Christmas - pine trees (!) how big a crowd they entice, the answer is not surprising: not very young.
For weeks, commentators have been indicating - sometimes mockingly, sometimes more passionately - what they think about the project, which is intended to be eminently progressive. "The beautifully renovated parks are covered with trash and weeds, where trees would otherwise provide shade, grass, flowers, and benches. What is the solution? Let's not clean it up, let's let everything go to waste. Let's do something on the asphalt. Am I the only one who thinks this is bullshit?” - suggested one commenter, and others also wrote that instead of the fifty-degree asphalt, they would rather go to Margitsziget, Normafa, or other places where there is shade, or where you can even swim. There were those who reminded me that "this beach craze was already there during Demszky's time, although not for long".
There was also someone else who referred to the Demszky days: "I miss the colorful injection-molded cows, for twenty million a piece, and it would be nice to have a non-functioning hourglass for a hundred million, just so that the artists in my friends can do well." "We already know how to spray paint, when do we start building?" a commenter asked the poetic question.
Several people shared their own experiences, for example: “Contrary to advertising, there is not a soul there. Some jumbled furniture and typically a road.”
"I hope there will be lots of rainbow flags too, otherwise I won't go out!" and "everyone is happy, especially those who go from Újpest to Csepel by car" - commented ironically. There were those who declared: "they will kill the city". "Unnecessary, pointless waste, smog booster," someone else concluded.
Source and image: Magyar Hírlap
