Jason Micallef has defended the controversial regeneration of Ta’ Qali’s picnic area, insisting there is “as much grass as you could want” despite large sections of the popular recreational space remaining covered in gravel.The head of the unit responsible for administering the park told Times of Malta that more people are enjoying the picnic area today than five years ago, arguing that the regeneration project has transformed what was previously an unsuitable space for families and events.Visits to the area found that significant portions of the picnic area remain largely covered in gravel, with only patches of grass beginning to emerge.The controversy dates back to August 2025, when it emerged that the picnic area had been covered with gravel as part of a €311,000 project, sparking criticism over the removal of green space.At the time, Micallef dismissed concerns, insisting that the gravel would help reduce dust during the summer months while allowing grass to grow back during winter.He subsequently maintained that the grass would return with sufficient rainfall, although the issue continued to attract criticism.Prime Minister Robert Abela also weighed in on the controversy in January, acknowledging that the government “could have done better” with the project.“We have to be honest with people; it could be better,” Abela said, explaining that an expert had been appointed to advise on how grass could eventually grow following further intervention.Asked for an update on the situation, Micallef insisted he was proud of the first phase of the picnic area’s regeneration.“Whatever people say, including Times of Malta, the land was not enjoyed in the past as it is now,” he said.“The land was a disaster, children used to get hurt, you could not hold events and the first phase was to level the ground.”When pressed on when grass would grow across the gravel-covered sections, Micallef responded: “There’s as much grass as you could want in Ta’ Qali, including at the picnic area.”However, he did not provide a timeline for when the gravel-covered areas would become green, nor did he confirm whether those sections would eventually be covered in grass.Micallef also pointed towards ongoing improvements at the park, including the installation of more than 30 toilets and artificial lighting.He highlighted other developments at Ta’ Qali, including a new underground car park, a concert area replacing a former illegal concrete factory, and the transformation of 250,000 square metres of former factory land into what he described as Malta’s largest public garden.Despite the continued criticism surrounding the picnic area, Micallef maintained that the wider regeneration of Ta’ Qali has been a success, accusing the media of failing to give sufficient attention to the improvements.“You never report these successes,” he said.What do you make of the current state of Ta’ Qali’s picnic area?•