The pedestrian street on Kiparos beach, one of the most picturesque destinations on the Albanian Riviera, is once again at the center of discussions, not only for its beauty, but for the significant deficiencies in public infrastructure that affect the quality of life of residents and visitors.

Despite investments in the context of "Urban Regeneration", residents express their strong concern about the absence of public spaces, most notably the lack of playgrounds in the village.

"Heavy-duty" infrastructure but no provision for the community

According to the technical documents of the “Reconstruction of the Kiparo Beach” project, the focus was almost exclusively on infrastructure such as decorative stone paving, lighting and sewage networks. However, there is no public mention of the provision of a comprehensive playground for children’s creative activities.

Residents recall the protests of 2016, when they complained that the project was deviating from the original plan. There are suspicions that public spaces were sacrificed to serve the private interests of businesses along the coast, turning the coastal area into a strictly commercial zone, far from the needs of families.

The problem is not limited to Kiparos. Other villages, such as Borsi, and Himara itself, present a similar picture. The lack of recreational areas for children is attributed to several factors:

Excessive commercialization: Land in coastal zones is considered too "valuable" to be made available as free public recreation space.
Preference for private initiatives: Children's entertainment is often limited to small spaces within private businesses, forcing parents into consumption and additional expenses.

The community calls on the Municipality Of himare and The Albanian Development Fund (FSHZH) to reconsider the management of public Space. tourism development cannot be considered successful if it does not include spaces that promote social cohesion and the well-being of permanent residents.