The visit highlighted the importance of active community participation, long-term commitment and cooperation between local authorities and citizens in creating and maintaining sustainable green spaces. It also showed that good practices cannot simply be replicated but need to be adapted to local contexts, making transnational exchange and mutual learning particularly valuable.
The Perugia experience will contribute to the ongoing PARKS exchange, supporting partner cities in developing more inclusive, resilient and community-driven approaches to urban green-space management.
The visit to Perugia highlighted several important lessons for the partner cities involved in the PARKS network:
Community involvement is essential. The experiences presented at Chico Mendes Park and San Matteo degli Armeni demonstrate that the active participation of citizens and local associations can strengthen the long-term care and use of green spaces.
There is no one-size-fits-all model. Perugia’s experiences show that participatory green-space management can take different forms, from the management of public parks and community activities to long-term urban gardening initiatives. These approaches can be adapted to different local contexts.
Long-term commitment matters. The experience of Vivi il borgo, which has managed the urban garden for more than ten years, shows the importance of continuity, trust and stable relationships between citizens, associations and local institutions.
Green spaces can become places for social cohesion. Beyond their environmental value, shared green spaces can provide opportunities for community activities, learning, networking and stronger connections between residents and their neighbourhoods.
Transfer works through adaptation, not simple replication. The exchange confirmed that the value of the PARKS network lies not only in presenting successful practices, but in understanding the conditions that made them work and identifying how they can be adapted and improved in other European cities.
