When I first connected with Silviu Botez and Ramona Florea from the Bacău County Council at the end of 2020, the Athletic Park was little more than an ambitious idea. There was enthusiasm, determination and the belief that Bacău could create something unique for its residents. Today, only a few years later, that idea has become reality. Watching this journey unfold has been both inspiring and rewarding, and on behalf of the European Sports and Wellbeing Alliance for Municipalities (ESWAM), I would like to sincerely thank Silviu Botez, Ramona Florea and their team for the commitment, leadership and willingness to share Bacău's story with the rest of Europe.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this project has been the speed at which ideas turned into action. Following the introduction to the Danish landscape architecture firm Keingart, the collaboration quickly gained momentum. Inspiration was translated into local ambition, partnerships were established and, step by step, the Athletic Park became a tangible example of what can be achieved when cities are willing to learn from one another and adapt international knowledge to local needs.

Projects like the Athletic Park also remind us that European cooperation goes far beyond exchanging ideas. This remarkable development would not have been possible without the support of the European Union, whose investment has helped transform an underused urban area into a vibrant public space for sport, recreation and community life. It demonstrates the impact that European funding can have when local vision, international expertise and political commitment come together around a shared ambition.