The new urban beach at the La Palma canal, in the Anelli di Sant'Elia park, will be built, but the possibility of swimming remains uncertain . A former military pipeline runs through the area, and it's not yet clear whether the stretch of sea will be suitable for swimming. Luisa Giua Marassi , City Councilor for the Environment, confirmed the doubts: "The wooden platform will follow the promenade. But there's an old pipeline in the area, and we don't know if the beach will be suitable for swimming ."

The beach will be flanked by a permeable wooden platform, equipped with lounge chairs and umbrellas, which will accompany the seaside promenade. The issue of swimmability, however, remains to be clarified through the necessary assessments. This is one of the issues that emerged from the review of the project for the completion of the Anelli Park, along with a series of changes regarding safety, green spaces, and the area's new functions.

The new features were illustrated by Francesca Mulas Fiori (Avs) , president of the council's Environment commission, after an inspection of the park together with the Ecology commission and councilor Giua Marassi.

The tour began from the Lazzaretto square, along the existing promenade, to reach the areas that will be affected by the second and third phases of work. It was an opportunity to assess the status of the completed works and the critical issues that have emerged over the years.

"The park is beautiful: the green areas, shrubs, herbs, and planted trees are in excellent condition, and the seaside promenade is a delight," says Mulas Fiori . The park also features a shared orchard, with olive and almond trees that are growing and already providing shade. However, there are problems: "Over the years, the lighting system and the structures that were intended to house small recreational and catering businesses have been vandalized." This situation has led to one of the main changes introduced by the administration: the entire park will be fenced and guarded. The gates will remain open during the day, but will be closed at night , following the model already adopted for other large city parks. "This is necessary if we want to avoid acts of vandalism, which have come at a huge cost to the administration," emphasizes the president of the Environment Commission. The renovation of the kiosks already present in the park, currently in a state of disrepair and damaged by vandalism, is also planned. Their redevelopment will take place after the completion of the works: only then will the intended use of the structures be defined.

The five hectares still to be redeveloped will also be subject to safety measures. The area requires thorough and particularly costly land reclamation. For this reason, a one-meter-deep earth fill is planned, which will cover the area and create a new green terrace with trees and lawns. The areas crossed by the military pipeline will also be protected and closed to public access by fencing and a thick belt of shrubs .

The former Arena Grandi Eventi has also changed its purpose. The new layout includes the construction of steps for outdoor performances, oriented toward the sea and the stage. Restrooms, changing rooms, utility rooms, and the necessary connections for events will be located beneath the steps.

There's also news for the Porticciolo Sant'Elia cooperative . Its headquarters will be relocated to a new adjacent area, already identified by the administration in consultation with the fishermen. The market area will also be located there, complete with fencing and necessary equipment.

"The overall goal," adds Mulas Fiori , "remains to restore to Sant'Elia and all of Cagliari a large public space on the sea, capable of hosting sports, recreational, and cultural activities, while simultaneously improving safety and usability." Now the challenge is to move from design changes to concrete implementation. "It will be essential to quickly complete the planning and find all the necessary resources," concludes the councilor. The goal is to begin construction in 2027.

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