A (in)sustentabilidade do Parque Linear do Riacho Maceió, em Fortaleza-CE

Abstract

The Maceió Stream Linear Park is an environmental restoration initiative aimed at improving the quality of life of residents in Fortaleza, Ceará, grounded in the theoretical principles of sustainable urban development. Located in the Greater Mucuripe region, the project unfolds within a complex socio-spatial context marked by tensions among diverse urban actors. On one side are low-income populations and descendants of the area's original inhabitants; on the other, high-end real estate developers and the State. These conflicting interests raise critical questions regarding the project's actual sustainability. This study adopts a descriptive research approach, employing fieldwork and semi-structured interviews to investigate the dynamics surrounding the park. Anchored in the theoretical frameworks of sustainability, sustainable urban development, and urban linear parks, the research analyzes the initiative through the lens of Sustainability-Based Assessment (SBA). The findings reveal the persistence of a development narrative primarily oriented toward economic growth, challenging the project's alignment with genuinely sustainable principles. Based on the accounts and observations provided by local residents through semi-structured interviews and field visits, it was possible to highlight the contradiction in the public authorities’ discourse on sustainable development in the formulation of public policies. These policies often disregard popular participation in the planning and intervention of their territories, aiming not at addressing local needs, but rather at reproducing a development model centered on economic growth.