Park at Pra Catinat: instructions for use

The issues
For a few weeks now, a debate has arisen regarding the availability of parking at the former sanatoriums of Pra Catinat, in the Municipality of Fenestrelle and within the Orsiera Rocciavré Natural Park, at the winter closure point (October 31 - June 15) of provincial road 172 leading to the Colle delle Finestre. The controversy stems from the decision of the rightful owner of the areas, previously used for free parking, to prohibit public access to these surfaces, thus causing difficulties for the numerous tourists and hikers who visit the area, which is the starting point for some splendid itineraries in the Park, including the popular route to the Selleries Refuge. This decision dates back to last June, but it is only with the beginning of the winter closure of SP 172 that the issues related to available parking spaces have become evident.
Among the purposes of protected areas is the promotion of enjoyment and knowledge of the protected heritage; for this reason, the Park Authority, despite not having direct competence over roads and public safety, has been working from the outset to find a solution to the problem in the interest of users, consulting the ownership and already sending a report on July 1 to the competent Municipality and the road management authority. In the coming days, a discussion is planned where positive news may emerge, despite the complexity of the issue.

Some temporary solutions
In the past week, the Park Authority has responded to numerous reports from users of the area who have faced an unexpected inconvenience due to the difficulty of parking their cars. While waiting for concrete solutions to the parking problem, the Alpi Cozie Parks address all those who intend to visit the Pra Catinat area or reach the Selleries Refuge, suggesting some common-sense rules to ensure responsible and respectful use of the environment and other people during this transitional phase.
First of all, cars must be parked with great care and attention in the few remaining available areas, mainly constituted by parking bays along the provincial road, especially respecting no-parking signs. Cars should not cause road restrictions, allowing maneuvering space, two-way traffic crossing, and especially the passage of rescue vehicles or snowplows in case of snowfall. To avoid traffic jams near the former sanatoriums, it is preferable to avoid reaching the starting point of the itineraries by car at all costs, where space is now very limited. In the last kilometer of the provincial road, there are sufficient areas to orderly accommodate several dozen cars, especially at the hairpin bends. It may require an additional few minutes of walking, but it avoids the stress of being stuck in congested motor vehicles and allows for a calmer observation of the wonders of the beautiful Depot-Pra Catinat pine forest in which you find yourself immersed. For those who do not enjoy walking on asphalt, there is also a valid alternative represented by trail number 333, which has recently been maintained by volunteers from the Pinerolo Cai in collaboration with the Park Authority, reaching the former sanatoriums following a more direct route and cutting the road at several points.
The invitation that the Protected Areas of the Alpi Cozie feel compelled to spread among hikers is to continue frequenting the area, adopting simple measures to manage this emergency phase decently. In fact, it can be an opportunity to take the time to appreciate certain environments with renewed curiosity that were previously hurriedly crossed by car without compromising the outcome of the excursion or reaching the destination.