Transforming Vacant Land and Neglected Spaces into Green Living Areas in Neighbourhoods and Schools

The city is facing increasing impacts from climate change, particularly higher temperatures and stronger urban heat island effects in dense neighbourhoods and school environments. In response, the municipality is already implementing a broader urban greening strategy and is seeking to accelerate this work by transforming vacant land and neglected spaces into new green living areas.  

The project focuses on reclaiming underused urban sites in neighbourhoods and schools in order to create shaded, tree-lined and welcoming public spaces. These interventions aim to improve comfort during heatwaves, increase biodiversity, reduce soil sealing and provide new areas for social interaction and recreation.  

Several pilot actions have already been identified:

• Demolition of a prefabricated building at Girondins School to create a green and tree-lined schoolyard;
• Transformation of a former vacant site on Rue d’Aboukir into a shaded resting area in the Saint-Martin neighbourhood;
• Creation of cooling islands with new tree planting on a former vacant site on Rue de la Fère.  
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The project builds on existing experiences in depaving and greening schoolyards, including interventions already carried out in Laroche and Pagnol schools. It would involve technical departments, education services, road services, building services, local residents, neighbourhood councils and school communities in a co-construction approach.  

The ambition is to test small-scale, visible and replicable actions that can later be expanded across the city. Through a European network, the municipality aims to exchange good practices, identify innovative greening solutions and develop a stronger methodology for reclaiming neglected urban spaces.  

We are looking for Lead Partner and Partners.