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Description
The aim of the project is to conduct a participatory process of revitalization of industrial areas in the city of Chełmno. The project responds to the problems that have been identified in the city, such as: low level of civic and social activity, limited access to social activation programmes addressed to children and youth, and insufficient offer of leisure activities for young people. The public consultations regarding the spatial development of Chełmno (2021) revealed that there was a lack of places in the city where residents could meet. The same problem was mentioned in the Development Strategy of the Chełmno Municipality for 2014-2020. As part of the project, we will conduct a participatory process of designing a new green area (the Neighborhood Backyard) and developing a concept for a neighborhood house (the Neighborhood Foundry). We will identify needs and expectations of the residents, and analyse the pros and cons of the new area. We will conduct workshops for residents, and teach them how to act for the development of their neighborhood. Project partners are the City Council in Chełmno and the Sustainable Development Laboratory Foundation. The partners will help identify needs and expectations of the residents, provide plants from the municipal greenhouses to the new area and take part in the consultations. The project is addressed to the residents of Chelmno, representatives of local authorities and NGOs.
Summary of project results
The aim of the project was to carry out a participatory process regarding the revitalization of industrial areas in Chełmno, including the development and implementation of a square development project (Neighborhood Courtyard).
In the spring, we conducted a diagnosis of the needs of Chełmno residents, then joint workshops with architects, and together with the residents, we developed an outline of the backyard, which was modernized in the summer (including moving the shelter, changing the asbestos covering, lowering the fence, plantings, a sensory path, pallet furniture). Then we organized free and open workshops in the backyard (macrame, bracelets, herbalism, yoga, gymnastics, photography). Their participants and Backyard supporters then planned the Backyard Festival (a day full of music, food, animations for children and workshops for everyone interested). In the fall, the Backyard Festival took place - the culmination of the Project and our common success. Then, workshops were held for the recipients of backyard activities, during which we not only carried out a thorough evaluation, but also once again analyzed the residents'' needs regarding this place and set priorities for the next season of activities. The Neighborhood Yard will continue to operate - we believe that an investment of this type will create an important point on the map of Chełmno''s social services, improve the quality of neighborly relations and the residents'' sense of belonging. The "Recipe for Polnej" project was implemented by the Odlewnia Foundation together with partners - the Chełmno City Hall and the Sustainable Development Workshop.
Although the project was a success, we encountered a lot of adversities along the way - Covid in the teams, a huge increase in prices, the need to change the space, lack of a grant to continue the project, which, with a huge increase in prices, forced the Foundation to abandon the dream of quickly building a Neighborhood House and rebuilding the concept the end of the project. A thorough diagnosis carried out before and during the commencement of activities makes us confident that this is the place expected by the residents. The autumn evaluation showed that they want to act in the Backyard, they have their own ideas and the willingness to implement them. We are very happy about this. The implementation of the project was also measured by the number of people who came to the Backyard Festival - 150! This is huge potential. Unfortunately, the yard has to suspend its activities for the winter, but in the spring we will return with a program developed with the residents and we will repeat the research once again. Then we will be able to talk about permanent effects and changes in this space in the perception of residents. We also managed to strengthen local cooperation and network formal and informal organizations operating in our area. The result was also an increase in the green area in the city, improving the aesthetics of the area. The result is also the establishment of cooperation between 3 sectors and the successful implementation of this cross-sectoral project.