Last updated: October 2021
"Walking pathway located on the banks of the river of the Arc which flows to the south of the city. It follows the meanders of the river and includes games for children, a fitness trail, meadows in the shade of tall trees that border the stream. It covers an area of 10 hectares." (Ref. 1)
Parc Christine Bernard
Source: https://www.aixenprovence.fr/Promenade-de-l-Arc
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Protection of natural ecosystems
Project objectives
-"This space is an ecological niche for many species of birds and rodents"
-"In summer it is a real shelter of freshness. The promenade is the place of meetings of the joggers" (Ref. 2)
-"This hike around the Arc allows visitors to discover an astonishing wealth of fauna and flora." (Ref. 3)
Implementation activities
-Walking, jogging, and biking trails maintained (Ref. 2 and 3)
-Playground and picnic areas (Ref. 1 and 2)
-Mobile Phone application available to download for hiking trails guidance and species discovering thanks to information (Ref. 5)
-"Treated in a rustic way, this space constitutes an ecological niche for many species of birds and rodents." (Ref. 2)
-"It is also known for its cultural heritage with the presence of three remarkable bridges: the Pont des Trois Sautets , the Pont de Saint-Pons and the Roquefavour Aqueduct" (Ref. 3)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Regional government
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Citizen monitoring and review
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
This nature walk is offered by the Community of the Country of Aix (Council of the territory), in partnership with the Office of Tourism of Aix en Provence. (Ref. 3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
- Increased number of protection areas
- Increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Increase in protected green space areas
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Increased spread of native/heirloom/open-pollinated seed
Economic impacts
- Unknown
- More sustainable tourism
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
Yes
References
1. Office de Tourisme d'Aix-en-Provence (n.d). "Promenade de l'Arc". Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
2. Ville d'Aix en Provence (n.d). "Promenade de l’Arc". Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
3. Ecobalade (n.d). "Balade d'Aix-en-Provence (13) - Autour de l'Arc". Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
4. Promenades en Provence (n.d). "[Aix en Provence] Promenade de l'arc". Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
5. ecoBalade (n.d). Application to download for hiking trails around the Arc River. Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
6. Itinerary map (Google) of the trail. Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020)
2. Ville d'Aix en Provence (n.d). "Promenade de l’Arc". Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
3. Ecobalade (n.d). "Balade d'Aix-en-Provence (13) - Autour de l'Arc". Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
4. Promenades en Provence (n.d). "[Aix en Provence] Promenade de l'arc". Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
5. ecoBalade (n.d). Application to download for hiking trails around the Arc River. Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020).
6. Itinerary map (Google) of the trail. Available at: Source link (Accessed: Jul 09 2020)
Parc Christine Bernard
Source: https://www.aixenprovence.fr/Promenade-de-l-Arc