Networks and cities' news

It’s a wrap-up! GreenPlace cities are now on track to revitalising and green their forgotten and unused places!

After 2.5 years of the URBACT GreenPlace network, the journey now comes to an end. Project partners got to learn from each other on practices that they implement locally covering the themes of circularity, culture and nature-based solutions. They also exchanged about their governance models the ways to engage local communities  activities. Throughout the URBACT methodology they learnt to identify their challenges, develop common visions, define an intervention logic, test some activities and publish an Integrated Action Plan (IAPs). This latter now forms the basis for the on-going and future work of the GreenPlace partner cities!
 

What have been the main outcomes of the GreenPlace journey? Here is what they shared during a last in-person meeting in Limerick late September 2025.

GreenPlace in Wrocław: Two and a Half Years of Co-Creation

Over the past two and a half years, the City of Wrocław, through the Division of Civic Participation, has been implementing the GreenPlace project within the URBACT programme, focusing on the transformation of the former Popowice tram depot into a vibrant, green and inclusive place for the city. A key element of this process was the work of the URBACT Local Group (ULG) GreenPlace in Wrocław, which brought together representatives of the municipality, municipal units, experts, NGOs, local activists, cultural operators and residents, united by a shared vision for the future of this unique site.

GreenPlace Partners Meet in Limerick for the Final Core Network Meeting

The 7th and final Core Network Meeting of the GreenPlace Partnership took place in Limerick, Ireland from the 23rd to the 25th of September 2025. The meeting focused on partner cities sharing reviews/feedback of the Action Planning Network, Integrated Action Planning journeys, the URBACT Local Group experience and what’s happening next for partner cities. Several site visits were carried out over the three days, with presentations on key topics of interest to the visiting group organised by Limerick City and County Council (LCCC)staff.

Nitra brings green and creative spaces to life: Two URBACT GreenPlace pilot events at Martin's Hill

During the summer of 2025, the city of Nitra (Slovakia) hosted two vibrant public events that marked important milestones in the implementation of its Integrated Action Plan (IAP) under the URBACT GreenPlace project. These events served as real-life tests of how the area of the former military barracks at Martin’s Hill could become a thriving space for community life, cultural activities, heritage appreciation, and sustainable development.

Both events were co-organized by ULG partners (URBACT Local Group), bringing together local institutions, experts, and community organizations engaged in the long-term vision for this historic and green area.

Shaping Urban Regeneration Together in Vila Nova de Poiares

From 13–14 May 2025, Vila Nova de Poiares, Portugal, hosted delegations from eight countries for the 6th Core Network Meeting of the URBACT “GreenPlace. Let’s do it together!” network. Representatives from partner cities, including elected officials, ULG members, and project experts, came together for two days of exchanges, workshops, and site visits, all with a shared focus on green urban regeneration and active community participation.

Breathing New Life into Bucharest’s Oldest Tram Depot

Located in central Bucharest, just behind the Government headquarters, Victoria Depot stands as a significant, yet underutilized, landmark of industrial heritage — the oldest tram depot in the city, and a site with considerable potential for urban regeneration. Characterized by its iron framework, spacious halls, and embedded urban history, the depot had gradually receded from public attention — until the GreenPlace network brought it back into focus through a structured participatory initiative.