The Association of Palestinian Local Authorities (APLA) made a field visit to Beitillu village in Ramallah and El-Bireh Governorate to receive the Public Park construction project. The park provides an integrated environmental and community space that serves the residents of Beitillu and neighboring villages. The project is one in a series of interventions implemented by APLA in the context of the Sub-grant Initiative, jointly funded by the European Union and Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).

During the visit, the Beitillu Village Council provided a comprehensive account to APLA team, addressing stages of implementation. The project was developed on the old landfill site, which had long been a health hazard and source of environmental pollution. This abandoned site was transformed into a public park and sports stadium. It has various facilities, including green spaces, water facilities, shaded spaces for children, comfortable seats for the elderly, as well as an integrated playground and facilities that support sports and social activities. Reflecting an inclusive vision of local urban planning, the project was designed and implemented to meet inclusion standards and serve all community groups, including the youth, women and children.

It also includes a small retail outlet that provides employment opportunities for the local community and, when leased, generates income for the village council. This economic dimension of the project is enhanced by supporting local employment opportunities and growing the village council’s own revenues, positively impacting the quality of public service provision.