Storm Kristin left deep scars on the small town of Bouça, in the municipality of Covilhã, completely destroying the retaining wall of the playground — a meeting place, a place for play and memories for so many families.
In the small village of Bouça, in the parish of Cortes do Meio, municipality of Covilhã, there is a space that is much more than just a playground. It is the only recreational and leisure area for the community. It is where children play, families meet, grandparents look after the little ones, and where the village keeps its human, close-knit, and supportive spirit alive.
The destruction of the retaining wall jeopardized this essential space and, with it, an important part of community life in Bouça. For a small town, losing its playground means losing a place for meeting, joy, and a future.
That's why we launched this campaign: to rehabilitate the Bouça Children's Park and restore safety, dignity, and hope to this space that belongs to everyone.
Every contribution, regardless of the amount, will be a concrete gesture of support for a small but determined community. By helping, you will be rebuilding more than just a wall: you will be protecting Bouça's only recreational space, supporting its children, and affirming that no place is too small to deserve care, attention, and a future.
About the author
The Parish of Cortes do Meio is a local authority within the Municipality of Covilhã, endowed with its own representative bodies — Parish Assembly and Parish Council — and dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the interests of its population. Under the terms of the Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, local authorities are territorial legal entities with representative bodies, and, according to Law No. 75/2013 of September 12, parishes exercise powers in areas such as rural and urban infrastructure, public supply, education, culture, leisure and sport, social action, civil protection, environment and sanitation, development, urban and rural planning, and community protection.
Located on the southern slopes of the Serra da Estrela mountain range, about 15 km from the city of Covilhã, the parish of Cortes do Meio extends from the Penhas da Saúde plateau to the Ourondinho area, encompassing the villages of Cortes do Meio, Bouça, Cortes de Baixo, Ourondinho and Penhas da Saúde. It is a mountainous territory, characterized by deep valleys, watercourses, granite crags, rural heritage and a strong community identity.
Its location within the Serra da Estrela Natural Park and the Estrela UNESCO Global Geopark gives it significant environmental, landscape, and scientific value.
Cortes do Meio is now establishing itself as a parish with strong tourism potential, especially in nature tourism, geotourism, mountain tourism, rural leisure, and the enhancement of water resources. Among its main attractions are the Ribeira das Cortes stream, natural pools, waterfalls, and pools of clear water, which support the territorial designation "Capital of Natural Pools," registered in 2019. The village is recognized as a destination for crystal-clear waters, mountain scenery, and direct contact with nature.
The parish also offers important resources for visitation and enjoyment: the mountain village of Penhas da Saúde, hiking trails, viewpoints, leisure areas, religious and built heritage, rural traditions, pastoral culture, local associative activity, and proximity to some of the most emblematic landscapes of the Serra da Estrela mountain range. This set of values makes Cortes do Meio a unique territory, where municipal action intersects with nature protection, heritage enhancement, sustainable development, and the promotion of the population's quality of life.
Budget and due dates
Following market research, the reconstruction of this retaining wall requires €45,000.00, with characteristics that guarantee a safe, robust, and long-lasting construction.
The work could be completed within 1 month.
