What is going on in the network?
During this third quarter, the URBACT Local Groups (ULGs) in each city have been actively engaged in a series of meetings to continue their collaborative work. These meetings have provided a platform to discuss and refine their ideas, with a particular focus on the development and implementation of Small Scale Actions within each city. By concentrating on these targeted actions, the ULGs aim to create impactful changes that align with the broader goals of the network while considering the specific needs and contexts of their individual cities.
Public Policy Evaluation webinar
On July 8th, the network hosted a webinar centered around public policy evaluation. The main goals were to explore how data can be effectively used to evaluate public policies, develop a list of common indicators that align with the network's needs, and discuss various ways to obtain data through different methodologies and stakeholders. The webinar brought together different perspectives, making it a valuable session for anyone looking to enhance their understanding of policy evaluation using data.
Examples of Small Scale Actions in the Network
This past summer, the ULG in the Krakow Metropolitan Area explored and discussed pilot actions for their URBACT project with a presentation of their "small-scale" action in Niepołomice and how this methodology could be applied to other municipalities. The Metropolitan Area carried out this action in autumn 2024 with the redesigning of a commuting oval providing access to one elementary school in the city centre. The aim of the action is to modify the traffic organisation around the school into a one-way street and engineer the space with placemaking interventions.
In Sligo, the local ULG focused on ongoing small-scale actions such as Town Centre Property Use Surveys, which have received approximately 50%
responses from key streets in Sligo and the progress of festivals and events, including the Queen Maeve Festival and the Summerfest.
Network Best Practices
The URBACT methodology reminds us that Rome wasn't built in a day. That's why cities are encouraged to experiment and test solutions proposed in their integrated action plans. This chapter collects best practices developed by the cities of the Cities@Heart network.
Lamia / Destination Management Operation (DMO)
Lamia is taking strategic steps to establish itself as a key destination through its innovative Destination Management Operation (DMO). This initiative helps alleviate over tourism in crowded areas by promoting culturally rich, lesser-known cities like Lamia.
As part of the "Solid Greece 2014-2020" Operational Program, supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the DMO develops advanced data analysis tools to manage and predict tourism flows, ensuring sustainable growth. By developing a cohesive place-branding strategy, Lamia is fostering local pride and attracting new visitors, transforming its city center into a vibrant hub for tourism, culture, and business.
Celje City Centre Manifesto
The municipality of Celje has defined 14 actions for a vibrant city centre. These initiatives are designed to enhance urban living by promoting active city management, improving pedestrian access, and supporting local businesses and entrepreneurs. Key actions include closing streets to car traffic for public spaces, co-financing facade renovations, and regulating restaurant terraces for a unified look. The city promotes community engagement through events, floral decorations, and murals celebrating local history. By providing spaces for artists and cultural events, Celje aims to create a lively environment that reflects its unique identity and fosters community.
Fourth Transnational Meeting
Quadrilatero Urbano hosted the third trans-national meeting, marking the middle of the planning phase. This phase, which aims to strengthen the practical knowledge and skills of the partners in the defined policy areas, to draw lessons from the exchanges on an ongoing basis and to apply them at local level, will end in October with the Transnational Meeting in Cesena.
Learning Activities
In addition to the transnational meetings, we will be organising other webinars on specific topics of interest to the partners. The following webinars are planned for the next quarter:
Last-mile Logistics - 18 September 2024
The Youth & the Elderly in City Centres - early December 2024
Read the full report here: https://www.calameo.com/read/00597960952ac86ccde1f
