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Description
With the support of the European Economic Area Programme, Keila Song Festival Grounds were renovated to withstand the increasingly more frequent and intense heatwaves and heavy rainfalls caused by climate change. The project area is in important city green corridor, near the school and hospital, and newly renovated area is very popular all-year-round for all the age groups. Nature-based solutions were used for transforming the holistic solution: permeable surfaces, green roofs on buildings, rainwater collection and recycling for use as utility water (in the venue’s restrooms and for irrigation), and diverse landscaping. The grounds feature various grasslands, including areas of white clover, meadows mowed only 1-2 times a year, and a rain garden with plants suited for wet conditions to absorb stormwater.
Attention has also been given to education and awareness-raising. The festival grounds include information boards, an outdoor classroom, an "urban child’s pantry" (for growing and introducing berry plants, fruit trees, and edible plants), and a sensory garden with fragrant, medicinal, and ornamental plants.
The festival grounds will offer versatile use, with plans for a skate park, a children’s playground, and an ice rink during winter.
Summary of project results
The city of Keila''s bigger goal is to achieve climate neutrality by 2050. And to do that actions have to be taken starting from now. Nature based solutions in Keila song-festival grounds take into account the changes in climate when developing a public space.
The existing construction was demolished and a new solution was built. With this project all the nature-based solutions were funded. The rainwater is collected, treated and recycled in the lavatories. Rain garden was built, outdoor classroom with extensive and intensive green roofs also. The walking-paths are covered with water-permeable coatings to avoid heat island effect. Diverse landscaping (permanent areas and flower meadows) and high greenery areas were created. And a public water tap was installed.
With the use of nature-based solutions, all visitors can enjoy being in a created environment that is full of nature-based solutions, so it feels like being part of nature. The song-festival ground is in active use as various events take part there.