During the implementation of the project, the Re-Gen network partners exchanged ideas, learned from one another, enhanced their skills, and developed integrated action plans to promote youth engagement and participation in urban planning, with a particular focus on opportunities for sports and active recreation in public spaces. An important contribution came from exchange visits and international meetings, which provided municipal specialists with inspiration and examples of how to creatively and effectively adapt the urban environment to the needs of young people. The experience gained is already being applied in the development of proposals for improving public spaces. For instance, ideas generated during the project’s urban development hackathon are currently being evaluated by municipal specialists responsible for drafting the development concepts of “Jaunā Forštate” Park and “Aveņu” Square.
In cooperation with the non-governmental sector, the municipality organized a co-creation workshop for young people on July 31st and August 1st, during which 39 adolescents sketched out various ideas for sports equipment and yard games they would like to see used in the city’s neighborhoods. These ideas were then turned into real equipment, which was made available to young people during street sports promotion events held on August 9th at the “Lielais Stropu” Lake beach and on August 30th in “Jaunā Forštate” Park. The second event highlighted the great potential of “Jaunā Forštate” Park to become a neighborhood hub for sports, culture, and social interaction, suitable for different generations with diverse interests. The park was filled with joy as local families with children and young people joined in shared activities, which not only promoted the meaningful use of public space for leisure but also strengthened the local community’s sense of belonging. The street sports promotion events in these two neighborhoods are a good example of successful cooperation between the public and non-governmental sectors, which should be continued in the future. The associations involved in organizing the events took care of both the organizational and content-related aspects, as well as the musical atmosphere throughout the events.
“Re-Gen” network demonstrates that by involving young people and giving them the opportunity to participate, it is possible to make the urban environment more accessible, vibrant, and attractive for the whole community. The main outcome of the project is an integrated action plan, which will serve as a practical tool for the long-term transformation of Daugavpils public spaces into dynamic, safe, and inclusive areas. It will also promote the participation of young people and all residents in regenerating underused public spaces through sports and sustainable recreational activities, thereby enhancing overall community well-being and a sense of belonging.
This publication has been prepared with the financial support of the European Union. Daugavpils Local Government of State City is fully responsible for its content, and it may not reflect the opinion of the European Union.
