Moedas says that the project for a green park in Lisbon on the territory of the WYD has already received an award.

The project of a green park in the territory of the Lisbon municipality, where World Youth Day (WYD) took place, has already received an award and should be completed by December, the municipal president, Carlos Moedas, announced this Thursday.

“I have already awarded the project, they are the architects of this Parque Expo zone. [junto ao rio Tejo], I have until December to submit the project. I asked that it be a simple project, with greenery, lighting, shadows and a sports field,” the mayor explained.

Carlos Moedas spoke to journalists at the end of the presentation of the next edition of Rock in Rio Lisboa in June 2024, which will move from Parque da Bela Vista to Lisbon’s Parque Tejo Trancão, now called Parque Tejo Lisboa.

The festival of music and entertainment will take place in this future green park overlooking the Tagus, equivalent to 34 football fields, where World Youth Day was held and where an altar stage was installed for religious ceremonies.

On land in the municipality of Loures, where WYD was also held, a green park is also planned to be built in 2024 with an investment of 3.5 million euros.

Regarding the green park in Lisbon, Carlos Moedas did not specify what the proposed budget was, saying that “cost does not matter” and that it would be “relatively cheap” since it does not involve the construction of real estate.

“Here, 34 hectares, there will be a new green city. There are no houses or cottages here, this is just another lung of the city,” he said.

Carlos Moedas also emphasized that Parque Tejo Lisboa “is not intended for permanent events; it will host some events, such as Rock in Rio Lisboa 2024, but it is not yet certain that the festival will host more than one event in this new space.

Parque da Bela Vista, which has hosted the Rock of Rio Lisbon since 2004 and has also been the stage for the Kalorama festival in the last two years, will remain without events until at least June 2024, dedicated to steam and the restoration of green spaces.

“Until the Rock in Rio date [junho de 2024] we need it to be steam. Then let’s see what can happen. Bela Vista will continue to be a place for events and great shows,” explained Carlos Moedas, without specifying what might happen to Kalorama.

Despite the change of location, the mayor also explained that the protocol with the Rock in Rio organization is the same.

“The city council participates with tax incentives, with what is indicated in the minutes. Nothing changes. What it cost in Bela Vista is what it costs the taxpayer here, and these are historic benefits,” he said, without explaining the significance.

Regarding the accessibility plan for the festival in Lisbon’s Tagus Park, Carlos Moedas said there would still be work to be done on it, especially on the venue’s connections to the Oriente train and bus station, but “there will be room for everything you need.”

The Rock in Rio 2024 festival site layout, unveiled this Thursday, includes several entertainment areas, such as the placement of a Ferris wheel, and five stages, one of which is the “All Stage”, which takes advantage of WYD’s “altar stage” designs.

Carlos Moedas called it “the stage of the future.” “Above all, we will discuss the future, discussions through the people who come today for culture and sustainable development, and also discuss the legacy of Pope Francis, what it should be for everyone (…) All in Rio, All in Lisbon,” – he stated.