Parque da BD Turma da Mônica

BD, short for banda desenhada, is the Portuguese for comics, and Amadora is the town of the Amadora International Comics Festival. The Parque da BD stands on the site of the Fábrica da Cultura, the old building where that festival used to be held.

The council opened the park on 16 November 2013 as a tribute to Maurício de Sousa, the Brazilian cartoonist who created Turma da Mônica (Monica’s Gang), comics about a group of neighbourhood children. The park covers about 4,000 m² in the Falagueira-Venda Nova area, and the council says it turned a run-down plot into a place for families.

Life-size statues of the Turma da Mônica characters are dotted around the green space: Mônica herself, Cebolinha, Cascão, Magali, Chico Bento, Zé Lelé and the dog Bidu. Hunting for each one and posing next to it is half the fun for a small child, and it’s a gentle way into the stories if your child hasn’t met the characters yet.

There’s also a mini library with Turma da Mônica books, so you can sit down and read an adventure on the spot. The comics are in Portuguese, which makes them a handy reading exercise for children learning the language.

The play equipment was built partly from recycled materials, and some of the structure of the old building was reused in the park. Time Out describes swings and slides made from recycled materials.

What makes the park stand out is its inclusive play. It has two play structures designed specifically for children with reduced mobility, and the council says they were the first of their kind in a public park in Portugal. For families with a child who uses a wheelchair or walking aid, that makes it one of the few playgrounds around Lisbon worth a special trip.

The park has set hours: 09:00 to 18:00 in winter and 10:00 to 20:00 in summer. It’s free.

We couldn’t find details of toilets, a café or parking at the park itself, so bring drinks and snacks. The council doesn’t break the equipment down by age, but the statues and book corner work for toddlers and preschoolers, and the play equipment suits children up to about primary age. It’s a small park, so plan it as a short stop of an hour or so, or pair it with somewhere else.

• Parque Central da Amadora, with its space-station playground and lake.
• Sould Park Jump, a trampoline park in the UBBO shopping centre, if it rains.
• Climb Up Carnaxide, an indoor climbing centre in neighbouring Carnaxide.

Is the Turma da Mônica park in Amadora free?

Yes. The council runs it and there’s no charge.

What are the opening hours?

Winter 09:00 to 18:00 and summer 10:00 to 20:00.

Is it suitable for children in wheelchairs?

It has two play structures designed for children with reduced mobility, which the council says were the first of their kind in a Portuguese public park.

Where is the Parque da BD?

On Rua das Indústrias and Rua Maria Alda Barbosa Nogueira in Falagueira-Venda Nova, Amadora, on the former site of the Fábrica da Cultura.

Which characters are there?

Mônica, Cebolinha, Cascão, Magali, Chico Bento, Zé Lelé and the dog Bidu.