Amsterdam, Netherlands
City population: 1006832
Duration: 2011 – 2017
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Previous derelict area, Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: October 2021

In order to improve the Indian Neighourhood, a 'ribbon' of multiple pocket parks was created that improves social cohesion and environmental quality. The area lacked social cohesion previous to the creation of the pocket parks and was faced with nuisance from addicts and drug dealers as they were involved in disturbing behaviour, vandalism and criminality (1,10). This created an unsafe environment for the inhabitants of the neighbourhood (1,5) In the stamp parks, social activities are organized and the green spaces are completely managed by citizens themselves. (1)

Postzegelpark Indische Buurt
Source: https://www.kcwz.nl/thema/burgerinitiatieven/lokale_kracht_uitgelicht__postzegelparken

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Allotments
  • Community gardens

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Environmental quality
  • Waste management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
  • Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
  • Effective management
  • Combatting crime and corruption
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social cohesion
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

1. Turn derelict areas into small green parks that are managed by citizens themselves and support social cohesion in the neighbourhood (1,2,4,5,6,8) 2. Improve the visual appearance of the neighbourhood. (2) 3. Encourage citizen participation in green space management (1,4,5,6). 4. Improve social and physical safety in the neighbourhood (5) 5. Reduce the litter on the streets and in the neighborbood and the creation of a cleaner environment which contributes to citizen health (5) 6. Support exercise of citizens by means of sport facilities (5,6)

Implementation activities

- Creation of pocket parks, including green spaces that attract people to the park and sport facilities (squash, chess), fruit and nut trees, flower garden, allotments, recreational facilities, a kiosk in which information is provided on activities (1,4,6) - Organisation of activities that support citizen participation such as meetings, working groups, newsletters, website, flyers and use of social media (2) - Organisation of social activities such as festivities and drinking tea (1) - Organisation of art exhibitions and workshops (7)

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Marginalized groups: Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)

Governance

Management set-up

  • Led by non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Private foundation/trust
  • Citizens or community group

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
  • Taskforce groups
  • Dissemination of information and education
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
  • Co-management/Joint management
  • Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
  • Citizen monitoring and review

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The idea of the ribbon of pocket parks were initiated by the Stichting Postzegelparken (Foundation Pocket Parks) who guides citizens and other actors in the process of designing, implementing and maintaining the parks, which was a result of the plan of Stadsdeel Oost (City Part East of Municipality of Amsterdam) who is also the land owner. Citizens initiated pocket parks themselves and the foundation guided them in the process in collaboration with housing corporations (Eigen Haard, Ymere and De Alliantie) and an NGO (Publicarea) (3). The role of the Publicarea was to guide and coordinate the public parks including monitoring the budget, realising new financial resources and creating process plans (3). The municipality of Amsterdam is a major financial contributor and land owner and also responsible for final decision-making (8). The housing corporation also financially contribute. (3). Citizens select locations, design, implement and do maintenance (2)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? No
... a national policy or strategy? No
... a local policy or strategy? Yes ('Wijkaanpak Indische Buurt Amsterdam Oost 2009' (Neighbourhood Plan Indian Neighbourhood Amsterdam East), in which measures are described to improve the neighbourhood (2,8))

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
  • Private Foundation/Trust

Type of funding

  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
  • Donations

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of land
  • Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
  • Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Safety
  • Increased perception of safety
  • Decreased crime rates
  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved social cohesion
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Improved physical health

Type of reported impacts

Expected 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

No evidence in public records

References

1. Stichting Postzegelparken. (n.d.). Postzegelparken. Website not available
2. Postzegel Park (2011). Eerste postzegelpark in Indische Source link on November 4, 2020, Source link
3. Tolman, M. (n.d.). Projectbegeleiding en procesbegeleiding Voorbeeldproject Postzegelparken. Website not available
4. Stichting Postzegelparken (2017). Stichting Postzegel Parken. [pdf] Amsterdam: Stichting Source link not available
5. De Alliantie (2014). Postzegelparken Indische Source link not available
6. De Groene Stad (2015). Postzegelparken voor een leefbare buurt. [online] Available at: Source link
7. Oost Online (2014). Flevopoort heeft postzegelpark. Website not available
8. Gemeente Amsterdam (2012). Omgevingsvergunning voor afwijking van het bestemmingsplan. Amsterdam: Municipality of Amsterdam [pdf] Available at: Source link
9. Havik, G. & Buizer, M. (2015). Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Case Study City Portrait; part of a GREEN SURGE study on urban green infrastructure planning and governance in 20 European cities. Amsterdam: Municipality of Amsterdam. Website not available
10. Gemeente Amsterdam. (n.d.). Aanpak Drugsproblematiek Zeeburg. Amsterdam: Municipality of Amsterdam. Website not available
11. Gemeente Amsterdam. (2017). Gebiedsplan 2017 Indische Buurt. Amsterdam: Municipality of Amsterdam. Website not available
12. Kenniscentrum Wonen-Zorg. (2012). Lokale Kracht Uitgelicht: Postzegelparken. Accessed on November 4, 2020, Source link