Environmentalists Fight to Save Historic Mohammedia Park from Parking Lot Development

In the eyes of these associations, the decision to transform Prince Moulay Hassan Park into an underground parking lot constitutes "a flagrant attack on the environment and the natural heritage of the city." In a statement, these civil society organizations believe that its transformation into a parking lot would lead to "the loss of groundwater, the destruction of century-old trees and the reduction of green spaces already in deficit."

Emphasizing the importance of Prince Moulay Hassan Park as a natural and historical gem, these associations have warned that this project threatens to destroy a significant part of the city’s memory and its ecosystem. Thus, they have called on all stakeholders to reconsider this "unfair" decision and to seek alternative solutions that achieve the desired objectives without harming the environment. They also assure that they are willing to cooperate with all stakeholders to find sustainable ecological solutions and ensure the preservation of Prince Moulay Hassan Park for future generations.

The transformation of Prince Moulay Hassan Park into an underground parking lot "is not technically feasible, because the park is located in a wetland which is an important water reserve, and this would therefore be a danger to the water table, especially since it is an important water reserve in Mohammedia," said Souhail Maher, a municipal councilor in Mohammedia, to Al3omk. According to him, "the parking lot is not a priority, there are more important priorities in Mohammedia that need to be addressed and that have a direct and significant impact on the population."

The study and approval of the partnership agreement project for the management and operation of an underground parking lot on Prince Moulay Hassan Square in Mohammedia were the subject of discussions at the extraordinary session of the Mohammedia Municipal Council on July 12, 2024.