Across Malta and Gozo, we're seeing what can happen when we turn ideas into spaces; spaces that serve not just some, but everyone. The past months have shown that the creation of green, accessible areas is not just a policy objective but an unfolding reality in neighbourhoods and communities.

From the very start, our commitment has been clear that open spaces should be available to all, regardless of postcode, background, or ability. And today, many residents live within walking distance of a park or public garden that didn't exist just a few years ago. This is the result of long-term vision and investment, and it's already making a difference in people's daily lives.

Inclusion isn't just about accessibility; it's about design, experience, and intent. That's why the new therapeutic and multisensory garden in Paola is such a landmark project. Works are now advancing on this 5,000-square-metre open space, and it is being developed specifically with inclusion as its core principle. It is intended not only to provide greenery, but also to offer meaningful accessibility for individuals on the autism spectrum and others with different mobility or sensory needs.

The concept behind this garden is simple but powerful: no one should feel excluded from the basic joy of spending time outdoors in a safe, welcoming, and engaging space. This is not a side project. It's a prototype for the kind of country we want to keep building.

The initiative is the result of determined collaboration between the Ministry for the Environment, Energy and Public Cleanliness and the Ministry for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector, through Project Green and Aġenzija Sapport. The Paola Local Council has also played a crucial role, ensuring that this new space will reflect and respond to the needs of the local community.

Upon visiting the site, it was evident that this investment is set to serve the growing population of Paola; but more than that, how it reflects a broader shift in how we think about public spaces. This is no longer just about improving spaces aesthetically, as these projects are now increasingly defined by their social and inclusive function.

This new garden will feature balance trails, stepping logs, and dedicated areas for social interaction - for play, but also to support coordination, mobility, and emotional connection. Plans also include a Bocce pitch designed to Special Olympics standards, and the restoration of an existing basketball court with full accessibility in mind. These aren't just design elements. They're statements of intent.

The garden is also directly in line with Malta's National Autism Strategy for 2021-2030, which calls for environments that support inclusion, participation, and independent living. This is what implementation looks like; not in a document, but in the lived experience of those who will use this space every day.

Those working closely on the project have highlighted how this green space was developed through a process where stakeholders truly listened. The team behind the implementation at Project Green emphasised their ongoing work with Aġenzija Sapport to ensure the needs of people with different abilities are being integrated into every stage. Meanwhile, the leadership at Aġenzija Sapport underlined how this space will serve as a practical, visible contribution to building an inclusive society - one where participation and belonging aren't ideals, but daily practice.

Of course, this is just one garden. But it carries the weight of something much bigger. It serves as a model for future projects, showing that inclusion and accessibility are design principles that need to be incorporated. It also reminds us that open spaces, when thoughtfully done, become more than leisure areas. They become sites of empowerment and community; as such projects should be.

Once completed, this garden will be open to the public in the afternoons during the week, and throughout the day on weekends. A practical schedule that allows this space to remain both a centre of care and a shared public good.

We often speak about progress in terms of infrastructure, strategy, and regulation. But the most meaningful signs of change are sometimes the simplest: a new pathway in a public park; a Bocce game on a Sunday morning; a child with a different ability feeling not just accommodated, but fully welcomed.

This is what we mean when we say "open spaces for all." And this is what we strive to continue to deliver -- across every locality, in every corner of the country. Because when we say all, we mean it.

Julia Farrugia is Minister for Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector