Portuguese Buddhists find new home in Monsanto Park

BY LUSA, TPN, Sept 27, 2012

Lisbon, Portugal -- In November renovation work will start on a building located at the Luneta Barracks viewpoint, in Lisbon's Monsanto Park, to accommodate the Portuguese Buddhist Union's (UBP) 'House of Peace'.

The €350,000 project has already been approved by Lisbon Town Hall and was revealed to the public last week.

Part of the cost has already been met by the UBP through their 'A Temple for Monsanto' fundraising project.

Work on the Casa da Paz, which aims to be "a place in which to promote socio-cultural, therapeutic and spiritual activities" should be finished by summer next year.

The renovation is also part of a set of measures drawn up by Lisbon council to improve and bring new dynamics to the Monsanto Park over the next 18 months.

It is hoped that over the next 20 years some 15,400 trees in the 900-hectare park will be replaced and a further 5,000 new trees planted.

In related news, Cascais council has spent around €1.2 million on buying two properties near the town's old bullring, to be used as new stations for the region's PSP police.

The investment comes as part of a protocol signed in March between the council and the Ministry of Home Affairs, which aimed to reorganise and find new installations for the region's PSP.

Cascais Mayor Carlos Carreiras told Lusa News Agency that the acquisition of the two properties cost approximately €1.2 million from a total pot of €2 million allocated for the restructuring.

"It is an investment that we, making money that we are putting forward but which will bring us a return of €5 million because it is real estate, will serve for public usage", he explained.

As well as the purchase of the two properties near the bullring, Cascais PSP's streamlining includes the transferral of the Tourism Station and the 50th Station to the Fiscal Guard building, in the town's historic area, which is already in the process of being renovated and should be finished in six months.

The old fire station in the 5 de Outubro Square is also having work done to it so in future it can be used by municipal services.
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