Århus, Denmark
City population: 308508
Duration: 2015 – ongoing
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: unknown
Type of area: Previous derelict area, Other
Last updated: October 2021

There are various projects under the Den Grønne Kile initiative or the Green Wedge. The Green Wedge passes through all 4 subdivisions of the new district Aarhus K, and has a building percentage of 25% within the boundaries of the "wedge". (Ref. 3) Citizens are invited to contribute with green projects through the municipal innovation project "Green Citizen" (Grøn Medborger). (Ref. 1) The first and most prominent is a park created by citizens on an old railway track. The park has the nickname 'Kilen' and is a new city park for everyone, including upcoming residents and companies in the new district 'Aarhus K'. The park helps to promote the creative energy in the area and is in line with the development of the new district; it differs from the other city parks in Aarhus by offering space for many different activities and temporary projects that give life to 'Kilen' and make the trip along the railway track an exciting experience. (Ref. 1)

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
  • Railroad bank and track greens
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Environmental quality
  • Noise reduction
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Promotion of cultural diversity

Focus

Creation of new green areas

Project objectives

The south-eastern parts of the area of the abandoned railway tracks is transformed into an active landscape with new plantations, connection of roads, and green landscape. The "wedge" (park) works as a buffer against noise from other railway tracks, acts as an area to collect water from the new housing area, and provides open areas for cultural function. (Ref. 3)

Implementation activities

The Green Wedge passes through all 4 subdivisions of the new district Aarhus K, and has a building percentage of 25% within the boundaries of the "wedge". (Ref. 3) Citizens are invited to contribute with green projects through the municipal innovation project "Green Citizen" (Grøn Medborger). (Ref. 1) Some measures, such as planted trees and ditches remain permanent, other projects are temporary. (Ref. 1)

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Private sector/Corporate/Company
  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Led by non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
  • Citizen oversight (e.g. boards, advisory)
  • Other

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Citizens, students and companies are invited to contribute (through 'Green Citizen') with green projects to 'The Green Wedge' area (the new city park). (Ref. 1) Aarhus City provides support for green projects through the innovation project Green Citizen (Grøn Medborger). (Ref. 5)

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

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
  • Other

Non-financial contribution

Type of non-financial contribution
  • Provision of labour
  • Other
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
  • Citizens (e.g. volunteering)

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Reduced noise exposure
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Promotion of naturalistic styles of landscape design for urban development
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Promotion of cultural diversity
  • Improvement in people’s connection to nature
  • Other

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

No

References

Ref. 1. Aarhus kommune (2016) Den Grønne Kile. Natur og miljø. Information obtained: 2017-06-25. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 2. Aarhus kommune (2016) Godsbanearealerne. Information obtained: 2017-06-25. Source: Source link [Accessed 20 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Aarhus kommune (2015) Godsbanearealerne. Oplæg til udviklingsplan. Source: Source link [Accessed 20 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Aarhus kommune (2017) Grønne Projekter. Natur og miljø. Information obtained: 2017-06-25. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 5. Aarhus kommune (2016) Grøn Medborger - skab grønt med Aarhus Kommune. Natur og miljø. Information obtained: 2017-06-25.[Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 6. Smag Pa Aarhus (n.d.) The Green Embassy. Denmark, Aarhus. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 7. Aarhus kommune (2016) Grøn Træffetid i Den Grønne Ambassade. Natur og miljø. Information obtained: 2017-06-25. Source: Source link [Accessed 20 September 2020]
Ref. 8. Aarhus kommune (2016) Borgerbudgetter i det grønne - Erfaringer og anbefalinger fra Aarhus Kommune. Grøn Medborger. Source: Source link [Accessed 20 September 2020]
Ref. 9. Aarhus kommune (n.d.) Medarbejder positioner. CBA/Team Medborgerskab. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 10. Jyllands-Posten (2019) Bevar den grønne kile fra Havreballe Skov til Højen. Source: Source link [Accessed 20 September 2020]