As part of our Good Practice campaign, we investigated in a previous article what makes an URBACT Good Practice ‘good’. Two distinguishing features are ‘local impact’ and ‘transferability’, which can take many forms and contexts – as evident in the 97 URBACT Good Practices awarded in 2017. 

This article focuses on one practice in particular and its transferability and local impact: the Playful Paradigm. Find out how one city in Ireland adapted an URBACT Good Practice, developed by an Italian city, and transferred it at a national level. Your city could experience similar benefits if you send us your good practice! 

Defining ‘transfer’ in the URBACT programme  

In the context of the URBACT programme, a ‘good practice’ can be transferred through a specific model of ‘understand-adapt-reuse' supported by transfer networks. In the Playful Paradigm Transfer Network, as Lead Partner, Udine found a way to make the city landscape playful, officially recognised as an URBACT Good Practice. Awarded by URBACT in 2017, Udine’s experience with modes of play provided a template for not only reanimating underused, car-dominated public spaces but also to improve social inclusion and initiate community-led placemaking.

Through the URBACT Playful Paradigm Transfer Network, Cork (IE) developed a host of play actions in line with Udine's Playful Paradigm practice. “We went for something that was very pioneering in terms of trying to create a ‘playful city’…what does this actually mean?”, explains Kieran McCarthy, Lord Mayor of Cork (2023-2024) and an independent member of Cork City Council. ‘It’s really about re-thinking how we use our public spaces: closing off streets and creating playful areas’. 

Cork was inspired by the Udine example to develop a variety of play actions, including:

- The re-pedestrianisation of the Marina walkway, a historic walkway dating back to the 19th century.

- Getting permission to temporarily open streets for play (for example every Sunday for a month).

- Promoting the concept of Play Streets which at its core is the repurposing of the street for free play (setting up tug-of-war stations and big Connect 4 stations).

- Playful Cultural Trail of cultural institutions (including museums, art galleries, community centres, etc.).

According to Lord Mayor McCarthy, “These spaces were playful areas in the past, so it’s great to see families engage and discover these streets, their origins, and even their own neighbours.” As a transfer partner city, Cork also embraced the power of the practice (of play) to address other urban challenges (e.g. public health, environment, place-making, etc.). For instance, play packs and place-making training helped to reduce social isolation of Cork’s elderly population during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Cork’s application of the URBACT Good Practice proved its transferability, not only to other European cities but cascaded at national level. 

Continuing the transfer from European to national scale

Starting in 2021, the Cork URBACT Local Group spearheaded URBACT’s National Practice Transfer Initiative (NPTI) in Ireland – one of five intra-country transfer pilots reinforcing best practice exchange and URBACT’s added value in different European countries. With the support of the Irish National URBACT Point and a national URBACT expert, Cork helped to transfer the Playful Paradigm practice in 5 Irish towns:  Donegal, Portlaoise, Rush, Rathdrum and Sligo. “The different groups and town representatives came to Cork”, remembers Lord Mayor McCarthy. “I had the chance to speak to them about the impact of URBACT, and why they should engage with the URBACT programme.”  

Inspired by the Cork example, the five Irish partners got to work imagining how they could make it work in their own municipalities. The partner towns developed and implemented transfer plans, involving a variety of actions based on Cork’s experience with the Playful Paradigm Project. These plans were different, depending on the local context, but all focused on liberating streets and public places to the public – not just children, but all generations and groups.  

In Donegal Town, for instance, the Diamond town square was turned into play areas, and residents young and old were invited to have fun and connect with each other. Just north of Dublin, in Rush, the URBACT Local Group (ULG) created a Play Street. An area typically occupied by cars, this space became ‘open for play’. The Rush ULG members also created a storytelling trail involving the local library and community centre. Local community organisations in Portlaoise prioritised involving disadvantaged or vulnerable communities; in particular, the town got the Ukrainian refugee community involved. Sligo reanimated its town centre with new pedestrian sidewalks and cycle lanes as well as improvements to benches and street furniture. Play events, where busy retail streets in the centre were temporarily closed for car traffic, were well received by residents and businesses alike. Some of the successful elements that Sligo decided to implement following the Cork visit included installing the first parklet in the town (taking out two parking spaces and creating a seating area where residents and visitors can meet and linger) as well as a space for colouring chalk on the street. They are now partner in a new European network called Cities@Heart, to create a healthy and harmonious heart of the city. 

In a quirky turn of events, different communities decided to use recycled materials to play. Deep in the woods of Rathdrum in County Wicklow, locals took part in ‘snowball fights’. Instead of waiting for snow, old (washed) socks were used to kick off play activities. The town’s new library provided a perfect location to adapt a variety of play actions, including a community play bag loaning system. This system has been expanded to all libraries in County Wicklow. 

Exceeding expectations:  making play a priority in Irish towns 

Throughout the URBACT National Practice Transfer Initiative, Cork was able to delve deeper into its own recognised playful practice based on engagement with Udine and other European partner cities. Cork also took a hands-on role in offering material support and guidance to the partner municipalities (e.g. a manual for incorporating playfulness, Let’s Play Cork brand guidelines, etc.) 

Looking closer at the impact of the national transfer, it is clear that the learning exchange went both ways between the Lead Partner and partner cities.  

Irish partners answer Cork’s call to action 

Feedback has been positive across the local partners, according to Wessel Badenhorst, the URBACT Lead Expert who accompanied the transfer process. Partners in the five transfer towns and cities brought fresh perspectives to the conversation with Cork on the Playful Paradigm, pushing the boundaries of what playful spaces, events and engagements could look like in a specifically local, Irish setting.  

“It is worth noting that all partners in the Ireland transfer initiative reported that the impacts of their play activities and interventions exceeded their expectations,” stated Wessel. The most telling endorsements were that residents are requesting more play activities and that funding for play activities are being secured from national and municipal sources. All partners implemented their transfer plans, hence proving the value of the adapted and re-used actions first observed in Cork (the transfer city). And, although most people instinctively know that play makes everyone feel better, the national initiative helped the partner towns to observe and understand how, over time, the opportunities for free play in public spaces in Irish towns have been reduced for example by allocating too much space for the exclusive use of cars. With practical low-cost play activities, the partner towns demonstrated to their residents that a more liveable alternative is possible.  

Cork finds its playful calling 

According to Martha Halbert, Social Inclusion Specialist in Cork City Council: “Showcasing the work to our colleagues across cities and towns in Ireland represented not only a unique network building exercise for local government colleagues, but it encouraged us to look at the local factors which made the work unique and transferable.” Lord Mayor McCarthy can attest to this: “I’ve seen the joy my team gets from telling the story of Cork and the Playful Paradigm.” 

In addition to the types of connections and exchanges, the national transfer component has also helped to boost staff training: not just keeping staff skill sets up to par but also informing them of developments in the playful paradigm in the EU context.

Stepping back even further, the URBACT Playful Paradigm kick-started Cork’s investment in restoring public spaces as ‘playful places’. They secured Healthy Ireland funding to employ a Play Coordinator for Cork City, who is dedicated to increasing the profile and value of play in communities as well as at strategic policy level. Martha adds, “Play learnings are firmly embedded in the policy and structural landscape in Cork City now”. It also provided a stepping-stone for the city to get involved in other EU-level initiatives such as Horizon projects, and the EU Mission for Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities, of which Cork is one of the 112 selected laureates.

Children playing in activities of the Playful Paradigm initiative.

URBACT’s call for Good Practices: Cork’s advice

URBACT has a legacy of recognising specific methods, approaches and tools for making cities green, just and productive. These URBACT Good Practices are part of a legacy of positive change, not just at European but also at national and local levels.

"My call to any local government is to submit your good practice!” encourages Lord Mayor McCarthy. “Some of the world’s largest challenges exist in urban areas, and every municipality across the European Union is working on some important nugget that can help other cities and towns. Don’t leave it to others to write up the good practices!”

We hope that Cork’s experience inspires you to share your good practice. 

Interested in applying to the new URBACT Call for Good Practices (open until 30 July 2024)? 

All you need to know can be found on urbact.eu/get-involved.  

Thanks to Wessel Badenhorst, URBACT expert and the six URBACT local group coordinators for the materials provided: Joy Herron (Donegal Town), Aoife Sheridan (Rush), Martha Halbert (Cork City), Leonora McConville (Sligo), Ann-Marie Maher (Portlaoise) and Deirdre Whitfield (Rathdrum).
 

Kyselyn lisäksi kuulemismenettelyyn kuuluu eri yhteyksissä järjestettäviä keskustelutilaisuuksia. Kuulemisen tulokset kootaan yhteen ja julkaistaan vuoden 2024 lopussa Euroopan komissiolle toimitettavassa raportissa. Raportti sisältää suosituksia vuoden 2027 jälkeistä EU:n koheesiopolitiikan ja kaupunkien välisen yhteistyön kehittämistä varten. Euroopan komissio valmistelee ehdotuksensa vuoden 2027 jälkeisestä koheesiopolitiikasta vuoden 2025 aikana.

Taustaa ja lisätietoja tästä kyselystä ja meneillään olevasta koheesiopolitiikan ja URBACT-ohjelman tulevaisuuta koskevasta kuulemismenettelystä voit lukea tästä.

Digital transition in citizen participation

There is already a motivation from the cities’ side to invite ideas and open discussion around them from citizens before any decisions are made. It is also acknowledged that decisions should be made based on facts and actual up-to-date feedback from citizens. Different digital platforms can be used as tools to organise and implement participatory processes with citizens. Such platforms also provide the opportunity to increase the transparency of planning processes. Equally important is that data and insights of citizens are systematically collected, which requires the introduction of further digital tools.

One of these tools is online map-based questionnaires which can help to tackle the three main challenges cities often face when starting a complex planning process:

First and second, cities face the challenge of reaching too few people and too late in planning processes as they don’t have enough resources to engage thousands of people through events or meetings. With online map-based questionnaires, many more people can be reached and much faster. 

Thirdly, even if cities manage to reach a sufficient number of citizens and collect their input, they face the challenge of translating people’s knowledge into planning outcomes. By online map-based questionnaires it is easier to make people’s knowledge count as the data collected from citizens are already in such digital format which makes it possible to compare and analyse them with other types of data.

Why is this helpful for decision-making in cities? 

In complex planning processes, cities need to use multiple knowledge to make better decisions and achieve real positive change in their cities. Therefore, it is crucial to find a way to combine people’s and expert knowledge. Collecting data from citizens by map-based questionnaires at least opens up the possibility of making analyses jointly with expert data. But how can you implement such analyses? What should you do exactly with the experiential data gained by map-based questionnaires?

The answer is that these experiential data need to be shared and distributed inside the municipality among different departments by integrating them into the city-wide GIS system. GIS, being the abbreviation of geographic information system, is a framework for gathering, managing, and analysing data.

Most cities have already set up such GIS systems which usually include spatial (GIS) data about plans and guidelines, services, livelihood, built environment, infrastructure, natural environment, and mobility. The experiential knowledge can complete these datasets. This way planners, or other staff of the municipality searching data in the system, can also apply the layer developed from the data collected from citizens through the online map-based questionnaire(s).

How can one apply data from the GIS system in decision-making?

For more complex analyses it is worth using GIS software. In GIS software, you can implement multi-criteria analyses combining different kinds of data from the GIS system. GIS integrates many types of data. It analyses spatial location and organises layers of information into visualisations using maps. ​With this unique capability, GIS reveals deeper insights into data, such as patterns, relationships, and situations helping users make smarter decisions.

Therefore, GIS works with maps, data, and analyses. Maps are the geographic container for the data layers and analytics you want to work with. GIS integrates many kinds of data layers using spatial location. Most data have a geographic component. GIS data includes imagery, features, and base maps linked to spreadsheets and tables. Spatial analysis lets you evaluate suitability and capability, estimate and predict, interpret and understand, and much more, lending new perspectives to your insight and decision-making.

One of these spatial analyses is the multi-criteria analysis. In such analysis, first, you identify attributes that you want to investigate in your analysis. Second, you develop indicators that can represent best the attributes considering also the availability of spatial data that can be used for developing the indicator. Third, you decide what is the weight of each indicator in your analyses, and how important they are compared to each other. Fourth, you visualise the spatial indicators on different maps. Finally, you overlay all the maps cumulating the values of each pixel received at each indicator.

The result is one map that shows which areas are more and which ones are less suitable for a project according to the indicators applied in the analyses. Working this way has two important benefits: 

      1. It helps to make better use of people’s knowledge in combination with expert input.

      2. Decision-making is based on facts and up-to-date input from citizens.

This will most likely lead to better acceptance of decisions made by the city.

Invest in civil servant’s skills

Cities put more and more effort into collecting data from citizens for their decision-making processes and project planning. For this purpose, map-based questionnaires can be helpful since they allow cities to collect large amounts of data from citizens in a standardised way. However, such a large amount of data means also a big responsibility for city administrations to apply those data, making people’s knowledge count and turning them into real planning outcomes. For this purpose, even better use can be made of GIS analyses that cities can use to extract the main information from the big data. However, implementing GIS analysis requires both GIS expertise and GIS software. 

Looking at the benefits for citizen participation, it is worth investing in both! To create this expertise, it is strongly advised that the technical skills of civil servants be improved. This will make them confident to apply digital tools for citizen participation such as map-based questionnaires, GIS-related tools, and software. Cities that wish to make serious progress in citizen participation through investing in their organisation and the abilities of the civil servants to work with citizen participation should therefore also look at this when deciding on training the skills of their co-workers.

Förutom Härnösand deltar nio andra europeiska aktörer: Fundão-Portugal (Lead partner), Campobasso – Italien, Industrial Systems Institute, Athena Research Center – Grekland, Písek -Tjeckien, Nevers – Frankrike, Razlog – Bulgarien, Åbo Akademi University – Finland, Újbuda – Ungern, samt Mostar - Bosnien-Hercegovina. 

Jennie Olofsson, projektledare, är precis hemkommen från ett transnationellt möte med nätverket hos projektpartern Újbuda. 

Du var precis på möte med nätverket i Ungern. Vill du berätta om vad som hände där? 

Det var ett mycket givande möte med nätverket. 

Vi besökte Adaptér som är ett city lab bestående av en workshop, en professionell ljud- och videostudio, en reception med digitala upplevelser och ett kreativt projektrum. De fokuserar på digital konst och visualiserad stadsutveckling. Vi fick en omfattande stadsvandring där guiden, en stadsplanerare, med hjälp av digital visualisering visade vad Újbuda varit för stad historiskt. 

Historiskt har intellektuella och konstnärer bott i stadsdelen, och nu börjar dessa hitta tillbaka dit. Újbuda arbetar mycket med communitybyggande. Distriktet hyr ut lokaler till lägre pris om man bedriver kulturverksamhet. Hyressänkningen för kulturverksamhet hade fått lite oväntade effekter, till exempel såg vi en optiker som hade konst på väggarna. I köpcentret visade de också upp konst.

Trots initiativ som detta med digital visualisering av staden har Újbuda ingen digital strategi. Enligt projektpartnern är det exempelvis fortfarande vanligt att anställda skriver ut mejl. Det finns med andra ord också enklare saker att jobba med än att gå direkt på VR och AI. 

Vad är målet med Härnösands deltagande i nätverket? 

Målet för nätverket som helhet är att undersöka hur vi kan använda AI och VR för stadens utveckling. Målet med Härnösands deltagande i nätverket är att fortsätta utveckla en digital tvilling och ytterligare engagera medborgarna. Vi visualiserar nya utvecklingsprojekt i VR som medborgarna kan besöka. Invånarna kan ta del av utvecklingen på sambiblioteket i Härnösand där vi bygger upp en plats för detta. 

Vi arbetar även med kompetensutveckling. Alla på kommunen måste kunna mer om tekniken för att kunna utnyttja den bättre. Vi har exempelvis arrangerat en workshop för personal på tillväxtavdelningen för att testa AI verktyg. Det behövs en förvaltningsövergripande grupp för att arbetet ska bli effektivt och nu är samtliga med! 

Den stora frågan är hur vi kan använda AI och VR på fler områden. Frågor vi ställer oss är hur vi kan använda tekniker som AI och VR på bästa sätt i kommunen, hur de gör bäst nytta och hur invånarna ser på våra tjänster och ny teknik. Till exempel vill vi fortsätta utveckla vår digitala tvilling så att invånarna kan ta del av stadsutveckling på ett tidigare stadium och på så sätt göra fler delaktiga och engagerade i den. Här är det värdefullt med inspiration från andra europeiska städer för att identifiera fler arbetssätt. 

Vad har ni som ingår i nätverket fått ut av det internationella samarbetet? 

Adaptér i Újbuda gjorde en intressant visualisering av hur tätt det var mellan olika personer under olika tider, exempelvis bland besökare i gallerian, i kvarteret och i lokaltrafiken. Detta gjordes med hjälp av färger som symboliserade mängden folk. Visualiseringen skulle kunna användas i Härnösand för till exempel cykel och gångvägar och det skulle vara bra om lokaltrafiken var uppkopplad på detta sätt. Vi har även fått inspiration till hur man kan arbeta med försäljning av digital konst. Detta är något vi kan ta vidare till rätt aktörer i Härnösand. VR turen i Budaslottet när vi var i Újbuda kan ge inspiration till hur VR används inom turism. Vår lokala part Technichus i Härnösand blev väldigt intresserad av detta.

I sommar ska vi besöka konferensen Imagine the Metaverse i Tammerfors, en stad som har en metaverse strategi för 2040. Där kommer vi troligtvis få massor med inspiration. Genom nätverket har vi även fått kontakt med andra aktörer som arbetar med ämnet. Åbo Akademi Experience Lab och Nykarleby kommun vill också utveckla sin digitala tvilling. Vi har därför skrivit en förstudieansökan till Interreg Aurora, som beviljats, för att kunna jobba vidare med detta. 

De andra städerna i nätverket har även inspirerats av Härnösand. Fundão imponerades av hur Härnösand arbetar med VR. Fundão använder sina URBACT pilot-pengar, medel som är till för en mindre investering, till något liknande som Härnösand har. 

Vad skulle du vilja skicka med andra som funderar på att delta i ett URBACT-nätverk?

Vi lär oss massor genom alla kontakter med människor som brinner för sina städer och deras utveckling.  Det innebär en möjlighet att vidga horisonterna för vår lokala arbetsgrupp. Att delta i URBACT öppnar även dörrar när vi söker annan finansiering vilket leder till att vi får möjlighet att undersöka dessa frågor ytterligare, det skapar ringar på vattnet.  Att delta i URBACT nätverket är otroligt lärorikt och inspirerande!

Om Metaverse

Metaverse-teknik är de digitala teknologier som skapar virtuella världar där människor kan interagera med varandra och digitala objekt. Det är en avancerad form av virtuell verklighet (VR) och augmented reality (AR) som strävar efter att skapa en omfattande och sammanlänkad digital miljö där användare kan delta i olika aktiviteter och interaktioner, liknande det verkliga livet.

Miljöerna och de virtuella världarna skapas när vi länkar samman avancerad 3D-grafik, datorspel, sociala nätverk och andra digitala plattformar. På så sätt kan vi skapa en sammanhängande och immersiv upplevelse där människor kan arbeta, umgås, handla, lära sig och utforska saker genom dessa virtuella mötesplatser.

Belgia arhitekt Luc Schuitenil on visioon, et aastaks 2100 on „jätkusuutlik areng muutunud pleonasmiks“, ning kõiksugune linnaareng on paratamatult jätkusuutlik. Tuleviku linnad toovad uusi elu- ja tööharjumusi, liikuvust ja liideseid, mis ristuvad ja eksisteerivad koos looduskeskkonnaga. Kohalikud omavalitsused mängivad selles ümberkujundavas muutuses tähtsat rolli, eelkõige infrastruktuuris - luues mahajäetud hoonetest ja ruumidest haljasalasid, ühendades linnavõrku, võimaldades jalakäijate ühendusi ja infrastruktuuri ühest linnaosast teise. Lisaks selliste meetmete keskkonnakasule muutuvad avalikud ruumid ka loovuse, õppimise ja mõttevahetuste keskkondadeks.

Laeken 1800-2200, La Cité végétale, Luc Schuiten. Allikas: Vegetalcity.

Käesolevas artiklis vaadeldakse lähemalt vajadust rohelise taaselustamise järele URBACTi GreenPlace'i tegevusplaneerimise võrgustiku kontekstis, mis on üks 30-st URBACTi tegevusplaneerimise võrgustikust (juuni 2023 kuni detsember 2025). GreenPlace, mida juhib Wroclaw (Poola), tegeleb kasutamata, mahajäetud ja unustatud kohtade rohelise taaselustamisega, kaasates samaaegselt kohalikku kogukonda.

Unustatud ja kasutamata linnaruumide küsimus

Euroopa linnamaastik on viimastel aastakümnetel muutunud. Endised tööstus- või raudteeinfrastruktuurid, tehased, ehitusplatsid, tapamajad, suured tervishoiu- ja sotsiaalhoolekandeasutused, kaubanduskeskused, bürood või lõpetamata hooned ja linnakeskused, endised sõjaväe kasarmud, pargid ja haljasalad - mitmesugused hooned ja ruumid on kaotanud oma esialgse funktsiooni, jäänud kasutamata, maha jäetud ja/või unustatud.

Bukaresti delta. Allikas: Marcelline Bonneau.

Need hooned ja alad võivad olla maha jäetud või kasutamata erinevatel põhjustel:

- kohtadega seotud negatiivsed juhtumised ja seosed;

- sotsiaalsed, ajaloolised ja majanduslikud muutused linnas;

- rahvastiku suundumine maapiirkondadest linnadesse ja muutused elamisviisides (nt suuremad majad, vähem inimesi ühe pereüksuse kohta);

- arendamata maa madal hind võrreldes maa-alade ümberkujundamise kõrgete kuludega (nt mahajäetud tööstusalade taastamine).

Nende alakasutatud maa-alade, ruumide ja hoonete haldamine on Euroopa regionaalarengu poliitika ja rahastamise raamistike üks peamisi eesmärke. Kui midagi ette ei võeta, avaldavad need ruumid negatiivset mõju keskkonnale ja elurikkusele. Näiteks võivad endised laohooned moodustada nn soojussaared ning ladustatud reostus võib põhjustada täiendavaid probleeme, mis on muuhulgas seotud vihmavee juhtimisega. Kasutamata avalikud ruumid võivad avaldada negatiivset mõju ka maakasutusele, rääkimata maasurvest ja kontrollimatust linnaarengust (valglinnastumine) ning sotsiaal-majanduslikust ebavõrdsusest ja ebakindlusest.

Kui me aga midagi ette võtame, siis näeme positiivset mõju keskkonnale. Looduspõhised lahendused, mahajäetud tööstusalade alade taastamine, roheline infrastruktuur ja muud tehnilised rohelahendused - sealhulgas moderniseerimine või energiavõrgud - võivad suurendada elurikkust, kaitsta elupaiku, meelitada ligi uut loomastikku ja taimestikku ning integreerida kliimaga kohanemise lahendusi, mis on seotud näiteks vihmavee juhtimise ja veehoidmisega.

URBACTi võrgustikes osalevad linnad, näiteks nagu Lille (Prantsusmaa) ja Heerlen (Holland), on oma kogukonnas taastatud avalike ruumide positiivse mõju näidisjuhtumiteks. Poliitilised soovitused ruumide ja hoonete taaskasutamiseks hõlmavad muu hulgas järgmist: arhitektide ja planeerijate kaasamine maakasutuskavade väljatöötamisse; realistlike maa- ja finantseelarvete kindlaksmääramine; avaliku ja erasektori partnerlusmudelite kaalumine.

Miks on vaja arendada rohelist taaselustamist?

Roheline taaselustamine on silmapaistev viis, kuidas käsitleda kasutamata, unustatud ja mahajäetud kohti nii säästva linnaarengu vahendina kui ka eesmärgina iseenesest. Nende kontseptsioonide aluseks olevaid kõige levinumaid põhimõtteid käsitletakse järgmistes lähenemisviisides:

GreenPlace: 10 linna, mis taaselustavad koos kohalike kogukondadega unustatud linnaruume

Eespool kirjeldatud lähenemisviisid rohelise taaselustamise ja taaselustamise kohta moodustavad GreenPlace tegevusplaneerimise võrgustiku tuumiku. Wroclawi (Poola) linna juhtimisel kuuluvad sinna partnerlinnad Boulogne-sur-mer Développement Côte d'Opale (Prantsusmaa), Bukarest-Ilfovi metropolipiirkonna kogukondadevaheline arendusühendus (Rumeenia), Cehegin (Hispaania), Limerick (Iirimaa), Löbau (Saksamaa), Nitra (Slovakkia), Onda (Hispaania), Quarto d'Altino (Itaalia) ja Vila Nova De Poiares (Portugal).

Partnerprofiilide mitmekesisus rõhutab sellise partnerluse rikkust ja lisaväärtust. Mõned neist linnadest on väikesed (nt Vila Nova de Poiares-es, 7 281 elanikuga), teised väga suured (nt Bukarest-Ilfov, 2 298 000 elanikuga). Mõned on maapiirkonnad (nt Quarto d'Altino), mõned on väga linnalised (nt Wroclaw), teisi peetakse arenenud (nt Limerick) või vähem arenenud (nt Nitra) kohtadeks.

Partnerlinnad võivad olla rohelise taaselustamise ja kogukonna kaasamise eri etappides. Neil võivad olla erinevad kontekstid ja probleemid, nagu on märgitud GreenPlace'i alusuuringus, milles kirjeldatakse üksikasjalikult tegevusplaneerimise võrgustike konteksti, metoodikat ja tegevuskava. Hoolimata nendest erinevustest õpivad nad juba praegu üksteiselt väga palju!

Linnapartnerid keskenduvad eelkõige järgmistele unustatud ja kasutamata linnaruumide põhikategooriatele:

- Hüljatud hooned: nuudlitehas Löbau linnas, linnakeskus Quarto d'Altinos;

- Unustatud (kuid osaliselt kasutuses olevad) hooned: Popowice trammidepoo Wroclawis, Victorei trammidepoo Bukarest-Ilfovis; 

- Kasutamata haljasalad: keskaegne müür Limerickis, roheline tsoon Vila Nova de Poiaresis, Ejidos Ceheginis;

- Kasutamata hoonestatud alad: tulevane roheline kops Ondas, Station-Bréquerecque'i ala Boulogne-Sur-Meris, Martin's Hill - endine sõjaväe kasarmuala Nitras.

Löbau partnerid andsid hiljuti aru kohaliku kogukonna kaasamisest mahajäetud tehase territooriumi taaselustamise kavasse.

URBACTi tegevusplaneerimise võrgustikud: rohelisemad horisondid

GreenPlace'i tegevusplaneerimise võrgustiku töö edenedes on peagi oodata veel rohkem uudiseid.

URBACT IV programmi laiemas plaanis ei ole GreenPlace ainus URBACTi tegevusplaneerimise võrgustik, mis muudab linnu rohelisemaks. Veel mõned märkimisväärsed võrgustikud on COPE, Let's Go Circular, BiodiverCity, Eco-Core ja In4Green on!

A city made of diversity 

Benissa, located on the Costa Blanca of the Valencian Community in Spain, effectively combines history, culture, biodiversity and environmental sustainability. With a population of 11,462 inhabitants, the town benefits from a geographical position that provides a diverse landscape ranging from clean beaches to verdant mountains, which is essential for a sustainable development and a healthy lifestyle.

The service sector dominates the local economy, accounting for 76.7%, complemented by construction, industry, and agriculture which, although limited in scale, is crucial to maintaining the area's biodiversity and landscape. The well-preserved old town, together with Benissa's historic architecture, not only attracts cultural and beach tourism, but has also made the town an attractive place for international residents, enriching the cultural diversity of the community. Currently, 40.12% of Benissa's population is of foreign origin, which contributes to a rich cultural mix and shows the relevance of its attractions for developing a healthy lifestyle.

Benissa faces the challenge of conserving and valorising its environmental heritage while improving quality of life and promoting inclusive and sustainable development, adapting to the dynamics of a changing world without compromising the health and well-being of its citizens or the integrity of its environment.

 

The One health approach to foster the process of making the city a model of sustainability

Benissa is committed to a future where wellbeing, environmental health and sustainability form an inseparable whole. In fact, the town was nominated as a "sustainable municipality" in a regional award. The city wants to adopt the "One Health" approach in its core urban planning, recognising the interdependence between human, animal and environmental health. This holistic approach responds to local challenges such as climate change, which degrades its large natural mass, and also promotes healthy lifestyles, positioning it as a role model town in sustainability.

From learning from other green models to understanding how town councils coordinate to implement cross-cutting actions, Benissa seeks to consolidate its status as a sustainable municipality by participating in the One Health 4 Cities project. Currently, the town offers a natural environment accessible in less than 15 minutes from the town centre, which promotes and enhances it as a high quality of life. Taking advantage of its natural, sporting and urban resources, Benissa aims to strengthen its commitment and action to protect its assets and provide positive social, economic and environmental impact.

The commitment to "One Health" aims to improve the quality of life of local inhabitants but also to offer high quality services to visitors for now and for the future. Benissa seeks to create a resilient and prosperous society, capable of facing future challenges with innovation and sustainability. The town hopes to be a benchmark in the integration of human, animal and ecosystem health in a unified strategy, transforming Benissa into a model of holistic wellbeing: consolidating the care economy as an engine to generate income, employment and prosperity.

Towards a strategy that enhances biodiversity and cultural heritage while promoting the health and wellbeing of its inhabitants and visitors  

Benissa plans to develop a comprehensive strategy that respects and enhances its biodiversity and cultural heritage, while promoting the health and wellbeing of all its inhabitants and visitors inclusively. The strategy will include improvements in the health and social services sector, focusing on raising the quality of life for all citizens, particularly the most vulnerable groups such as the growing elderly population and young people with mental health challenges. 

In March, the town formed a Citizens' Health Council, which will ensure clear and precise monitoring of such measures. From the Urbact Network, sustainable mobility initiatives, the development of accessible green spaces, and the adoption of environmentally friendly agricultural and waste management practices will be promoted.

In addition, efforts will be intensified to educate and raise awareness about healthy lifestyles and the importance of biodiversity and environmental conservation. With a focus on inclusion and citizen participation, Benissa aims to be an example of how local and international residents can be active partners in defining their future. This collaborative and integrated model will ensure that policies and projects not only address current challenges but are also prepared to adapt and respond to future community needs.

 

To know more about Benissa : 

• Maite Escriva, Local project coordinator maiteescriva@ajbenissa.es

• Jorge Ivars, Vice-Mayor of Benissa jorgeivars@ajbenissa.es 
  

Activities and Developments in URBACT Local Groups
The report provides an overview of activities and developments within various URBACT Local Groups. These groups offer the opportunity to observe diverse approaches and collaborative efforts undertaken by local stakeholders to address challenges faced by their respective city centres. This section showcases the diversity of strategies and solutions being implemented locally.
 

This quarter, the network has been working specifically on the following challenges:
Gentrification (t2)
The primary aspects of this phenomenon are the loss of inhabitants due to housing shortages, a lack of adaptation to current family models, or the decline of local services and commerce, as well as the management of the impacts of tourism.
Adaptation to climate change (t3)
 

Historical urban centres, particularly those with a heritage status or those inhabited by more vulnerable populations, often face greater climate risks compared to more modernised urban areas. This susceptibility may arise due to the fragility and condition of the built environment and the socio-demographic characteristics of its inhabitants.
 

Transnational Meeting in Granada

Granada hosted the second Transnational meeting, concluding the activation phase. A detailed account of the recent transnational meeting in Granada is presented in the next section and captures discussions, exchanges, and key takeaways from this pivotal gathering. At the Granada meeting, several local experts presented successful projects implemented in Granada's historic centre, which could be of interest for other participating cities, for example, social and urban regeneration in the Santa Adela neighbourhood. 

The Santa Adela neighbourhood's intervention aims to regenerate its urban landscape, encompassing around 1,500 homes built in the late 1950s for those affected by the 1956 Granada earthquake. Its primary goals include enhancing residents' quality of life, fostering community maintenance, social cohesion, and socio-economic revival. This entails a comprehensive, publicly-funded effort across five areas for new construction and green spaces, with two areas dedicated to existing building rehabilitation. To achieve this, a Special Plan was formulated, establishing an Integrated Management Area employing expropriation as a pivotal action system, including compiling assets and rights, conducting joint appraisals, executing expropriation procedures, and assigning new residences. The project notably employed circular construction principles and a plan of social programming to accompany the rehousing of inhabitants. 

To learn more, watch the video from the URBACT URGE Network for Circular Building Cities.  

Learnings from Granada
Drawing from insights gleaned from the Granada meeting, this section summarises best practices presented there and serves as a source of inspiration and guidance for future projects within the network, showcasing innovations spearheaded by the meeting’s host city, therefore underlining the value of shared learning and cross-pollination of ideas.
 

Data-Driven Approaches

This section features an exploration of methodologies and frameworks employed in defining indicators and policies tailored to the unique needs of city centres. Essential to informed decision-making and policy formulation, leveraging data enables cities to make evidence-based decisions contributing to more effective and sustainable urban development.
The workshop held in Granada aimed to achieve two primary goals: first, to cultivate a comprehensive list of common indicators that effectively respond to the network's diverse needs; and second, to explore various methodologies and stakeholders involved in acquiring pertinent data.

Throughout the workshop, each city representative provided insights into their respective data infrastructure concerning the challenges discussed: Adaptation to climate change and Gentrification. These indicators were closely tied to policies aimed at addressing the associated statistics.

Future Steps and Initiatives
Concluding the report, forthcoming steps and initiatives envisioned within the Cities@Heart network are outlined, delineating the roadmap for future endeavours. This section emphasises the collective commitment toward realising a shared vision of vibrant, inclusive, and resilient city centres.

In June, the planning phase will continue with a visit to Quadrilatero Urbano (the cities of Barcelos, Braga, Vila Nova de Famalicão and Guimarães) in Portugal. This phase will strengthen the practical knowledge and skills of partners in the defined policy areas, draw lessons from the exchanges on an ongoing basis, and focus on applying them at the local level.The main outcome will be the Integrated Action Plans (IAP). The focus for this meeting will be on New supply models and Building a city centre identity, addressing issues like vacant shops and community reinforcement. 

Overall, the first Quarterly Report provides a comprehensive overview of progress, insights, and future directions within the Cities@Heart network, showcasing the collaborative efforts and commitment to creating thriving urban centres.

The first Quarterly Report is available for download in the Cities@Heart library or accessible online with the interactive PDF Reader Calameo.

Save the date! 
In addition to the TNMs, the network will be conducting two webinars.

May 13, 2024
City Centers at Night Time with Simone d’Antonio from the URBACT Cities After Dark Network

Contact the network for registration details

September 2024
Last-Mile Logistics
Date to be determined 

Photos © La Ampliadora 

La Ampliadora Social School of Photography of Granada is a space created specifically for students, so that they can use it both inside and outside of school hours, with everything necessary to learn, research, work and enjoy photography. The school is committed to participatory training with a team of young, active professionals who come from various fields related to photography, cultural management and other artistic disciplines.

On 15 April, URBACT launched a call for Good Practices (running until 30 July 2024). The call aims to reward impactful local practices in sustainable urban development, which can be a source of inspiration and transfer to other European cities.  

If you are working on sustainable urban development, you might be asking yourself: What, exactly, makes a practice ‘good’? This article looks at a handful of the 97 URBACT Good Practices awarded to cities from 25 EU countries in 2017. While these practices cover environmental, social, governance or economic themes, what got them their URBACT label?  

Four fundamental dimensions enable a local good practice to be awarded as an URBACT Good Practice. These represent the principles and values underpinning URBACT since 2002:

- Relevance at European level

- A participatory and integrated approach

- Positive local impact

- Transferability 

Relevance at European Level

As a European Territorial Cooperation programme, URBACT has to respond to the needs and priorities of European cities on urban development in accordance with the EU Cohesion Policy and its objectives. An URBACT Good Practice, therefore, serves or contributes to this framework, or the Sustainable Development Goals, or topics of the partnerships of the Urban Agenda for the EU. This is evident in the topics covered by the 97 URBACT Good Practices awarded in 2017: 

The examples featured in this article touch on these different themes. They also exemplify other characteristics that are considered when selecting an URBACT Good Practice. 

A participatory and integrated approach  

Cities face a spectrum of environmental, economic and social challenges, which are becoming more interconnected. Even if a challenge might fall under one theme (for example, motorised mobility), an integrated approach considers other important dimensions, like gender equality, digital, green transition, related to mobility and the different groups of the local population. The participatory element of a Good Practice refers to the involvement of different local actors, not only from different departments of the city administration, but with the civil society itself.  

Riga (LV) has found a way to use social urban spaces (i.e. community centres) to boost social integration and awareness of local affairs. Established in 2013, the Riga NGO House was created in response to requests from the inhabitants of Riga, themselves. As a community-inspired initiative, the NGO House serves the educational, technical and information support needs of the immediate community. It has gone on to host thousands of visits and events, organised by different NGOs and sometimes coordinated with other municipalities (e.g. twinning and networking events).  

This practice has been officially recognised by URBACT for empowering the non-governmental sector. The lessons learnt and exchange visits are documented in the final outcome of the Active NGOs Transfer Network, ‘The Power of Civic Ecosystems’. 

Located in a designated ‘buffer zone’, the small town of Athienou (CY) faces a unique set of historical, geographical, intergenerational, urban-rural challenges. The town’s Municipal Council of Volunteers (MCV) has been recognised by URBACT for its intergenerational approach to volunteerism. Volunteers work to address local social challenges and provide support services to residents, particularly from vulnerable communities. The volunteering activities take place at the Kleanthios Elderly Home, the Konstanileneion Center for Adults, the Municipal Nursery Center and the Social Welfare Committee. The MCV’s membership is seeing an increase, particularly of younger volunteers, a general awareness and commitment to rebuilding social ties. 

Athienou’s breakthrough active civic participation solution has been adapted by other European cities through the Volunteering Cities Transfer Network.  

In 2014 Turin (IT) launched a competition for all municipal employees (counting around 10.000) to push innovative projects and ideas for the city, developing and improving new services, environment-friendly projects, using information and communication technologies. This served as a model for creating a culture for innovation within the city administration  (e.g. improving performance, reducing waste, maximising resources). In 2017, 71 projects have been submitted, 111 employees involved, and 10 proposals rewarded.  

The practice was designated as an URBACT Good Practice because it helps to increase data and digital tools management to address urban challenges. The application can be seen in the partner cities of Innovato-R Transfer Network. 

Positive impact at local level

All URBACT Good Practices need to have a concrete solution to a host of thematic urban challenges. These, inevitably, have to respond to local needs. For a practice to be an URBACT Good Practice, ‘positive impact’ really means the positive change in a community. In other words, there should be a clear ‘before’ and ‘after’ effect, and a specific explanation of how and why it was effective. 

Mouans-Sartoux (FR) has been serving 100% organic daily meals in its schools since 2012. The city’s collective school catering scheme is officially recognised as an URBACT Good Practice, not simply because of its holistic approach, which brings together municipal farmers, schools, NGOs and local organisations. The decision to procure organic meals in school canteens has welcomed a behavioural shift in the local population. More residents are becoming aware and adopting healthier and sustainable food diets. In fact, in the last five years, Mouans-Sartoux has reduced its carbon impact by more than 20%!

Mouans-Sartoux’s practice offers critical insights into how other cities can bring about shifts in food systems for the betterment of the local community. The practice has since been adapted by other European cities through two URBACT Transfer Networks, BioCanteens and BioCanteens #2 Transfer Network. 

Chemnitz (DE) has developed a real estate management solution to deal with the problem of decaying historic buildings in the city centre. The city’s real estate authority, Agentur StadtWohnen Chemnitz, conducted a survey on vacant/derelict buildings and apartments, identified potential buyers and investors and activated support from public and private stakeholders. The results were compelling, which is why URBACT recognises the practice for its positive local impact: Chemnitz has seen an increasing interest from local investors in rehabilitating historic housing and repurposing abandoned buildings (with housing cohabitations, shelters, social institutions).  

The Chemnitz practice also holds promise for how cities can combat negative trends and urban processes that are not sustainable (e.g. suburban sprawl, car use, expensive housing, etc.).  

Learn more about this practice and how it was transferred through the ALT/BAU Transfer Network. 

Santiago De Compastela (ES) developed a game-based web platform to encourage recycling and other environmentally responsible behaviour. Green points (waste disposal points) were set up in the city centre. In exchange for disposing of waste at these points, citizens have the chance to win recycling vouchers, which can be used at local shops or exchanged at the City Council. In the first 2 years, tens-of-thousands of recycling actions have been registered at civic centres and green points and more than 115 local sponsors had delivered 800 rewards via the Tropa Verde platform.  

The gamification of urban waste reduction developed by Santiago De Compastela shows how to involve local communities in the green transition. The practice has been adapted by partner cities (including Zugló (HU) involved in the Tropa Verde Transfer Network.  

Transferability 

From the 2018 to 2022, 23 of the above-mentioned 97 URBACT Good Practices have been transferred and adapted in other 188 European cities, thanks to URBACT Transfer Networks. These 23 URBACT Good Practice Cities have also benefitted from the exchanges with the other cities, and with URBACT experts, to further improve their practice. URBACT Good Practice Cities set an example through and beyond the URBACT Networks. This potential for transferability is a key award criterion: the practice should be applicable to different contexts and regions.

For instance, Ljubljana (SI) set up ‘the Bee Path’ programme in 2015 to raise awareness of the city’s bee-keeping heritage: its over 300 beekeepers, 4.500 beehives housing, more than180 million bees. The path is designed in such a way that visitors realise the importance of bees for our survival, in addition to discovering the city's beekeeping and honey-making culture.  

This practice is centred around raising awareness of and preserving urban biodiversity and contributing to a more sustainable and sufficient community in Ljubljana. However, its legacy lives on through the BeePathNet Transfer Network and a European-wide network of bee-friendly cities (‘Bee Path Cities’).  

Learn more about Bee Path Cities and check examples of how the practice has been transferred in Bydgoszcz (PL) and the other European cities. 

In 2014, Piraeus (EL) established Blue Growth Piraeus: an urban sustainable development initiative focused on the Blue Economy. Still rocking in the waves of the 2008 global financial crisis, this initiative set out to boost the local maritime economy. Still in practice, Blue Growth Piraeus aims to mentor and encourage start-ups to develop services and solutions for the  maritime economy, adapted to the digital transition.  

Piraeus was able to transfer its URBACT Good Practice as leader of the BluAct URBACT Transfer Network (2018-2021) and another pilot URBACT Transfer Network, BluAct second wave (2021-2022). What was observed in Piraeus can easily be replicated and adapted in other European cities that have coastal or maritime economies.

This transferability has been proven in Mataro (ES), which adapted the five stages of the Blue Growth Piraeus Competition and other partner cities through BluAct Transfer Networks. 

Preston (UK) developed a procurement spending practice that simultaneously jumpstarts the local economy, helps businesses reduce their carbon footprint and combats social exclusion. It is also based on a participatory approach, whereby public (universities, hospitals) in the city and social-sector institutions work together to ensure that their procurement spending is used to bring additional economic, social and environmental benefits to local economies. 

It came up with a toolkit and video series, which were useful tools for transmitting the knowledge and insights acquired by the city through the practice.

The practice has been effectively transferred to Koszalin (PL) and other European cities involved in the Making Spend Matter Transfer Network.  

Find out more: URBACT Call for Good Practices open until 30 June 2024

Evidently, URBACT Good Practices come in all shapes and sizes; the value of a practice extends beyond a specific city or example. Nevertheless, they point to a common throughline for successful and enduring approaches to developing and transferring a practice. First, urban municipalities need to work within the EU and regional policy contexts and objectives to implement good practices. Second, a participatory and integrated approach to sustainable urban development is needed to solve the multi-faceted challenges facing today’s cities. Third, local communities need to be inspired and engaged at all levels of sustainable urban policy making. Fourth, the transferability of a practice, to different cities and contexts, means a wider  impact in Europe thanks to URBACT Transfer Networks. Ultimately, by leading Transfer Networks, URBACT Good Practice Cities can improve the implementation of their practices, following the insights of their partner cities and URBACT experts. 

Interested in applying? All you need to know about the URBACT call for Good Practices (open until 30 July 2024) can be found on urbact.eu/get-involved. 

Green challenges in the “oldest” new town of Hungary

Dunaújváros (ca. 42.000 inhabitants) is a typical and well-known example of the newly built and consciously planned industrial cities in Central and Eastern Europe. It was built in the 1950s on the site of a former village, Dunapentele, along with an enormous steel factory, and the city was originally called Sztálinváros (the City of Stalin), before acquiring its current name in 1961, after the Hungarian revolution of 1956 (Dunaújváros means ‘Danube New City’, so new city at the Danube). Among Hungarians, Dunaújváros is known as the “red” city, but interestingly, very few people, including locals know that the green area per capita in the city (112 m 2 ) is twice as high as the average amount of major Hungarian cities.

This great green asset is under threat – like almost everywhere else in Europe. While locals are not aware of their green ‘treasure’, climate change, manifested in increased frequency of meteorological drought, heavy winter precipitation, more intensive rainfalls in summer, and extreme heatwaves pose a challenge for the maintenance of the green areas (the city’s trees are getting old by now), especially since the city is located on a loess plateau that makes the situation even more complex since this sediment, formed by the accumulation of wind-blown dust in the ice-age, is critically posed for erosion when it is humid. Thus, there is a drainage system below the city and watering public parks is forbidden, while the municipality has to cut down dozens of trees that dried out in the 2022 historical drought that heavily hit Hungary.

It is always challenging to do things differently and climate change stimulates our civilisation notonly to do things differently but shift paradigms - very soon. Urban greenery is a window to the outside world for many people and it is high time to change how we manage our urban greenspaces. The issue is that our connection to nature, deeply rooted in cultural values, attitudes, and norms, plays a key role when we intend to increase the size and quality of urban green spaces as well as natural habitats and protected areas in and outside of the cities - in line with the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 and the historic Nature Restoration Law.

It is not neglected, it is biodiverse!

Resilient, biodiversity-driven green space management is increasingly visible in European cities. Using urban wildflower meadows instead of English lawns, new ways of planting trees to provide more space and air for the roots (e.g. the Stockholm plantation method), bee pastures and other initiatives to support pollinators, diversification of urban trees and bushes in the parks by using native and resilient species, using living stock for grazing, bird and bat-friendly parks, keeping leaves on the ground to provide habitat for insects and wintering places for hedgehogs – these scenes are more and more common in European cities, but residents often do not understand why these changes are needed, thus urban green spaces become urban stages to explain climate actions and the need for nature-based solutions and sensitise residents to understand the importance of biodiversity.

Cities do a lot in this field, from simple campaigns such as placing meaningful messages or signboards on trees about their benefits incl. monetising them, to more complex projects. Cities often use their tree registries to highlight the ecosystem services urban trees provide. They create a dedicated website or app not only to describe the species, genus and family of the given tree but to share myths, cultural and historical values as well as to highlight benefits (e.g. oxygen produced, carbon dioxide reduced, stormwater intercepted, energy conserved, air pollutants removed, total value of the tree).

This has great potential in Dunaújváros as the creation of a tree inventory is one of the most important goals of the municipality, which also can learn some communication/engagement practices from BiodiverCity partners (e.g. community-led Jane Jacobs Walks focusing on green spaces experienced by Cieza, ​​urban trekking from Siena, organisation of Bioblitz events from Guimarães). The use of placemaking to redesign urban green spaces indeed seems important in Dunaújváros since “placemaking inspires people to collectively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community” - says Project for Public Spaces, the initiator of the placemaking movement.

Invitation is stronger than intervention - a well-known story about the power of
communication and sharing responsibility

Using public spaces in a more environmentally conscious way and doing something for the public was the standard decades ago in Dunaújváros. For example, the city was famous for the high number of residents using bicycles daily and there were legends about the flowers placed on the streets. To tackle the most pressing issue, awareness raising, the arboretum in the city centre has a huge potential, but the popular Flowering Dunaújváros Competition is also a great asset (creating new categories reflecting on biodiversity and community actions), to explain the need for more biodiversity-driven approaches. No need to go back to the past, but it is worth rethinking the ways we use our public spaces, and this might help create a new identity for the “red” city too, enabling
locals to be proud of their green heritage.

Communication is key in this story. The city has already mapped its natural assets and biodiversity, and locally protected some areas and significant trees (a local arboretum, a nesting area of Merops apiaster, 22 trees, while along the Danube there are nationally protected Natura 2000 sites), there are enthusiastic local teachers and residents, but like everywhere in Hungary (and perhaps in many other countries), average residents complaint immediately when for example leaves start to fall and the municipality does not have time to clean it up. Our connection to nature is challenged…

“Our city has two lungs: the restored recreational area and beach around the Szalki Island at the Danube, and the green terraces at the Danube bank created decades ago after a huge landslide” – says Ms Réka Beéry, head of the department. These places are symbolic in Dunaújváros. Szalki Island is a good example of restoration, but beyond the summer season is hardly used. The grasslands on the terraces provide a great opportunity to transform them into more natural habitats, creating a showcase for the city to be followed by climate-adaptive grassland management across the entire city. “Due to climate change, we have to rethink the management methods of urban green spaces, we must enlarge and intensify the green surfaces and their biodiversity, we need to use new, more resilient species, while at the same time, we have to remove invasive alien species, and most importantly, we must invite residents to this process, enabling them to understand the climate actions needed” – says Mr László Szabó, administrator for green areas of the Municipality of Dunaújváros.

Although professionals need to deal with practical (annoying) daily issues like stopping illegal parking that destroys urban green spaces or removal of the huge amount of biomass from public green areas (which should not be necessary everywhere) and improving the water quality of local streams, they are open for a paradigm shift in daily practices, and despite the regular waves of residential complaints, they are open to share ownership and responsibility.

“The municipality follows the strategic directions laid down in key policy papers, but urban biodiversity and nature-based solutions are new expressions for us” – says Mr Zsolt Szabó, vice mayor. “Since we need new answers to the emerging challenges, we are open to learning, especially since biodiversity-driven green space management is something out of the scope of European funding. The BiodiverCity network is thus crucial for us helping to plan the paradigm shift needed in public green spaces, but the city just won a LIFE project enabling us to transform one of the 10 storey prefabricated buildings and its surroundings into a “green oasis” by using green walls and roofs, installing a community garden and use biodiversity-driven park maintenance on that area."

“The municipality organises lots of events dedicated to environmental protection, and there is a lot of information available on the website of the municipality, but climate actions are fragmented. We should need a joint platform for awareness-raising” - says Ms Nóra Deák, director of a contemporary art gallery. Now this challenge will be also tackled since a Biodiversity
Officer shall be appointed to join forces.

The Ejidos of Cehegín: abandoned hillsides in the old part of town

The central theme of this meeting in Cehegín was cultural heritage as a resource. Because this is a relevant issue in Cehegín due to the context of its case: The Ejidos, an abandoned site in a culturally protected old town. With the treatment of this area, the municipality of Cehegín wants to face the main challenges of these last years: the revitalisation of the old town in a situation of abandonment and depopulation, the lack of green areas, the complicated orography of the land and the difficulty to implement sustainable energy solutions in a protected space.

Visiting the Ejidos

Results of interest for the case of Cehegín

One of the most important aspects of this event for the municipality of Cehegín was the Peer Review activity, a powerful technique for generating innovative ideas and practical solutions using the wisdom of all participants. During this activity, the partners present at the meeting offered a variety of perspectives and expertise after visiting the Ejidos, thus generating a rich and constructive dialogue on the future of Ejidos. 

In relation to the community, the partners suggested transforming these spaces into meeting places for local residents, providing recreational areas such as picnic areas and cafés, and promoting participatory activities. In terms of design, it was proposed to take advantage of the topography of the area to create climbing and play areas for children, as well as to incorporate shading elements to address climate change. In addition, the importance of using materials that integrate with the environment and designing accessible paths for vulnerable people was highlighted. 

Related of the production of sustainable energy, the possibility of incorporating innovative solutions was discussed, such as solar farms outside the historic centre instead of on the site, or using mobile solar panels and benches on the ground with energy to charge mobile devices. The importance of not only producing clean energy, but also encouraging more efficient consumption was emphasised. In relation to the decaying buildings in the old town adjacent to the site, it was proposed to create a catalogue of protected buildings, to propose public aid to restore housing to reduce its dependence on coal and to establish local regulations to oblige the maintenance of abandoned spaces. Regarding the issue of abandonment, the possibility of seeking out the heirs of these properties and offering public funding for their restoration was also discussed. Finally, in terms of safety, the idea of implementing a cable car and finding ways to make it accessible to the elderly and people with reduced mobility by installing walkways was raised.

The importance of the Peer Review was evident not only in the diversity and depth of the ideas proposed, but also in their potential impact on the local community. By engaging project partners in a process of active collaboration and critical reflection, the Peer Review not only enriched the quality of the proposed solutions, but also strengthened the collective commitment to the effective implementation of these solutions on the ground.

Sharing good practices in the GreenPlace network

Furthermore, during the partners' visit, Cehegín presented a series of good practices that have been carried out in the municipality. These projects have contributed to urban revitalisation and promote the culture successfully in the municipality. On the one hand, the Ecological Park is a natural forest where nature merges with art pieces in a biennial exhibition. El Coso, on the other hand, is an urban park that has revitalised the old town by integrating nature-based solutions into a municipal building. In addition, the initiative of artistic locals, supported by the City Council, which seeks to revitalise the old town by restoring and providing empty premises for artists and artisans. Finally, the 3D parametrisation of the old town and the Cehegín Río project focusing on the renaturation of the riverbed, with the aim of eliminating invasive species in a natural way, were of great interest to the partners.  These visits have served as sources of inspiration for the rest of the partners and they have highlighted the importance of integrating nature and culture in the process of urban revitalisation.

Visiting artistic places in empty biuldings

To be continued

In summary, the transnational meeting of the URBACT Green Place network in Cehegín was not only a meeting point for the exchange of ideas and experiences, but also an evidence of  the benefits of Peer Review as a powerful tool for innovation and collaboration in the field of urban sustainability, this methodology will be used in the rest of the meetings. With a continued commitment to this collaborative technique and a shared vision for a more sustainable future, the URBACT Green Place network is well positioned to continue to make a positive impact on our urban communities across Europe.
 

GreenPlace Team

Submitted by Victoria Artés and Raquel Galarza, from Eurovértice  (external assistance of the municipality of Cehegín for the GreenPlace project)