The controversial slide at the Feixina Christmas Market has been dismantled
Residents celebrate the removal of the structure and warn of the increasing privatization of Feixina Park
PalmThe slide that was being assembled these days in the Feixina Park Christmas Market It's now history. Workers have completed its dismantling after the controversy it generated, a decision publicly celebrated by the Barrio Cívico Neighborhood Association. "Improvised decisions made behind the backs of the citizens are unacceptable. To err is human, to forgive divine," they stated on social media, emphasizing that the Palma City Council "did not endorse an installation placed out of place."
Disruptions and impacts in the park
The construction of the slide had sparked complaints among residents, who warned that the structure rendered one of the park's staircases unusable. They also complained that, to make it operational, work would have to be done on the crown of a tree "well rooted and in perfect condition," something they considered unacceptable.
Residents also questioned the lack of enforcement of regulations requiring a minimum distance of 1.5 meters between any structure and the bike lane for safety reasons, a requirement they pointed out is indeed demanded of local artisans and market vendors. Adding to these concerns was the elevated ice rink that has been permitted to be placed over a water fountain, which has since had to be deactivated. According to their complaints, the structure puts the reservoir, which must support its weight, at risk and could cause cracks or breaks.
Defending public space
The controversy surrounding the slide adds to the criticism from neighborhood associations in Santa Catalina and Jonquet, who insist that La Feixina is—and must remain—a public park. They believe that the model of the Christmas Market of La Fajina It goes against the grain and represents a covert privatization of one of the few green spaces in the area. The associations describe the municipal decision to hand over the park to private developers for two months as "unfortunate" and "unilateral," which, they claim, deprives citizens of enjoying it normally. The response comes after Afedeco and Pimeco accused them of trying to claim ownership of the space, an argument that the residents categorically reject.