The Mayor of Vila Franca de Xira Municipal Council, Fernando Paulo Ferreira, inaugurated the Scout Park of Mata do Paraíso in Vialonga on Saturday, October 10th. The project, which began as a dream five years ago, was realized through the OIL – Vialonga – Local Integrated Operation, with funding from the PRR, in a total investment of €690,881.31 including VAT.
The new facility includes changing rooms, an outdoor amphitheater, camping areas, a washing zone, field kitchens, parking spaces, and accessible routes for people with reduced mobility, covering an intervention area of 26,594.17 m2. The Mayor highlighted that the work helps to preserve the Mata do Paraíso, the "green lung of the Municipality", creates a modern and sustainable infrastructure, and offers new opportunities for the pedagogical work of the scout groups.
Fernando Paulo Ferreira added that the project embodies the "spirit of the major metropolitan investment program, the Local Integrated Operation (OIL)", which has concentrated approximately 7 million euros in Vialonga for material and immaterial actions. During the ceremony, a Protocol for the park's management was signed and handed over to the eight Scout Groups and Scout Associations of the Municipality.
The President of the Vialonga Parish Council, João Tremoço, emphasized the new space's mission: to provide children and young people with a place to learn, work as a team, take on responsibilities, respect nature, and above all, grow as citizens.
The Scout Park of Mata do Paraíso received three international awards: the "Wonder Global Design Awards 2026" in the "Cultural / Community Architecture – Other Community Architectural Designs" category; and at the LOOP Design Awards 2026, it received the "People’s Choice Award 2026" and also won in the "Architecture – Small Architecture" category.
