Locarno’s ‘secret garden’ sparks planning protest

The runaway success of a temporary summer social gathering spot on the grounds of an abandoned villa in the city of Locarno sets in motion protests against plans to build a large apartment block on the property. Calls grow for the municipal council to step in and preserve the former botanical garden as a park for residents of the Ticino city, while a public initiative to force the council’s hand looks increasingly likely.