/ The Rides District and the entire parks and attractions sector are mourning the death of a leading Italian manufacturer /

Renzo Martini, one of the fathers of the rides industry in Italy, passed away at the age of 79. A leading amusement entrepreneur from Rovigo province, in 1987 Renzo was one of the founders of ANCASVI (the Italian association of ride manufacturers) and later of the Rides District in his beloved Polesine region.

He founded Mel Park in Melara (RO) in 1980, which later became the renowned Technical Park, run by his sons Fabio and Christian. Their rides, appreciated for their high manufacturing quality and the highest levels of safety, were (with Renzo) and still are today (with Fabio and Christian) sold all over the world. 

“A great worker” is how those who have worked alongside him best remember him. Despite his age, even after retirement he could often be seen around the company’s workshops, alongside the workers, and this ‘gene’ has been passed on to his 2 sons, always dedicated to their work and with a passion for the design and creation of rides.

Together with work and family, Renzo also cultivated another great love: for sport and soccer in particular. He founded the Unione Sportiva Calcio Melara club, bringing back a local team that had been missing for several years, and with his ‘lads’ also had some satisfying results, such as getting into the Promotional soccer championship in 2005. 

To Fabio and Christian, who will miss this energetic and reassuring figure, we send our warmest thoughts and best wishes, also remembering their mother Maria who passed away a few months ago.

Taken from Games&Parks Industry November 2020, page 46