More information
Description
One of the goals defined in the ‘2025 plus Zawiercie Development Strategy’ is the expansion of the residential and tourist base in the town. Recently, local authorities have decided to improve the quality of greenery which will in turn improve the quality of life. Urban greenery serves numerous functions from leisure (walks, play activities with children, sports) to ecology (air purification, reducing air temperature). But we want the town to consider inhabitants’ opinions and needs in these ventures, too.Hence, we will engage them, along with local leaders, representatives of institutions and organisations functioning in the town as well as councillors in the discussion concerning the functions and development form of two parks located downtown, namely Tadeusz Kościuszko Park and OSiR Park, which due to their location and historic character are important for both the authorities and inhabitants. During municipal events we will organise in these parks public consultation points. Consultations will include exploratory walks and presentation of Blue-Green Infrastructure (BGI). We will also run workshops aiming at inventorying each park and defining both the potential and challenges of the discussed space. We will provide local authorities with findings of the consultation.The first partner to our project the Alta company of Iceland specialising in the implementation of participative and planning solutions, including BGI. We will pay a study visit to them to familiarise ourselves with new methods and best practices of urban participation. Our second partner – Zawiercie commune – will let us use their venues and equipment and will help us run consultations.
Summary of project results
One of the objectives of the ''Development Strategy of the City of Zawiercie 2025 plus'' is the development of the city''s residential and tourist functions. Recently, the authorities have focused on improving the quality of greenery, which improves the quality of living conditions. Greenery in the city fulfils many functions from recreational (walking, playing with children, sports) to ecological functions (air purification, lowering air temperature). However, we also wanted the city to take into account the voice and needs of the residents themselves in these projects.
We therefore engaged them, as well as local leaders and women leaders, representatives and representatives of institutions and organisations operating in the city, and councillors to discuss the functions and forms of management of two parks located in the city centre - Tadeusz Kościuszko Park and the park of the Black Przemsza Springs, which are important for the authorities and residents due to their location and historical character.
We conducted two participatory processes around the two sites. We organised opening and closing meetings for the processes, an educational picnic with the construction of a rain garden, a consultation point, design workshops and public forums. During these meetings we talked about the space, introduced the topic of climate change and talked about Blue Green Infrastructure. We also held design workshops for each of the sites, and defined the potential and challenges of the space in question. We developed community concepts for the development of both sites, which are on display at the Municipal Cultural Centre.
One of the project partners was the Icelandic company Alta, which specialises in introducing participatory and planning solutions related to the implementation of Blue Green Infrastructure. During the planned study visit, we learned about new methods and good practices of participation in the city. The second partner, the Zawiercie Municipality, actively participated in the activities by co-organising the implementation of the consultations, providing premises and equipment, as well as human resources.
From the questionnaires and evaluation interviews, the people we engaged - including those working in the office - increased their knowledge of participatory processes and their methods, as well as the importance of greenery in the city, blue-green infrastructure solutions and adapting the city to climate change.
Summary of bilateral results
We evaluate the cooperation very well. We already knew our Icelandic partner from the previous edition of the programme and we have always had good cooperation.In this project, he supported us in organising a study visit to Iceland. Our partner is a private company, but contrary to stereotypes, it engages in cooperation as a civil society organisation, and does not count with a pharisaical meticulousness the number of hours worked for our project. The partner is concerned with adapting cities to climate change. Thanks to him, we have learned a systems approach to our work. And thanks to us, the partner has solidified the sense of taking cross-sectoral action. In addition, thanks to our Icelandic partner, we decided to enter into an Erasmus-funded project, where there is a partnership with countries such as France etc. We are planning further cooperation, which is dependent on the funding we receive for this.