Last updated: May 2025
Named after the former Mexican president Lázaro Cárdenas, this green corridor project stretches over 4,5 km throughout one of the most densely populated areas in Belgrade. It was first built in the 1970s, connecting the building blocks 45, 44 and 70 of Novi Beograd, but has deteriorated since then (Ref. 4,9). Given the fact that close to 40.000 people live in the area which its highly vulnerable to climate change, action was taken to fully reconstruct the corridor for the benefit of local and surrounding residents (Ref. 3,4). The project was implemented in three phases, according to the three blocks adjacent to the construction site starting in 2019. During the third implementation phase in 2022, however, major delays occurred due to disagreements with the local neighbourhood association "Common Action Block 70 and 70a", which demanded to be taken into consideration in the project's design (Ref. 2,5). Despite some cooperation between the responsible authority (Greenery Belgrade) and the association, demands could not be met (Ref. 5). In the end, the project was carried out as originally planned by the authorities, with a delay of approximately one year. Ultimately, the green corridor provides ample amenities for sports (bicycle lanes, basketball courts, playgrounds, etc.) and recreational activities (benches, chess area) as well as low-barrier infrastructure for all age groups (Ref. 9). The project was initiated by President Aleksandar Vučić and supported by the current mayor of Belgrade, Šapić, who both have roots in the district (Ref. 4,6).
Aerial view of the promenade
https://www.telegraf.rs/vesti/beograd/3325370-pocinje-rekonstrukcija-setalista-lazaro-kardenas-u-bloku-44-imace-igralista-teretanu-na-otvorenom?galerija=1&slika=4
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Green corridors and green belts
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Improving physical health
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Sense of community and community engagement
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Heat stress & Extreme temperatures
- Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
- Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
- Poor community engagement
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Social Justice and community
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Urban reforestation, restoration of street trees, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Ecological restoration of existing green spaces
Project objectives
1) To reconstruct the green corridor for the adjacent residential blocks 44,45 and 70 and surrounding areas (1,4,6,7,9)
2) Encourage physical activity of different types and recreation (Ref. 6,7,9,10)
3) Achieve high standards of living by understanding residents' needs (Ref. 2,4)
4) Provide air-cooling effects as a measure against heat waves (Ref. 1,3)
5) Enable social interaction and community engagement by involving citizens in the maintenance of the green area (Ref. 5)
Implementation activities
The project was conducted in three phases, each corresponding to one of the three adjacent blocks (blocks 45, 44, and 70).
- Creation of ample sports and recreational infrastructure as well as the renovation of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure (Ref. 9)
- Besides the paths, playgrounds for children, sports fields, recreational equipment and new lighting were installed. (Ref. 9)
- New benches and garbage bins are installed (Ref. 9)
- New trees and ornamental plants are planted. Planters of variable height are installed, in which will be planted perennials of different flowering times and colors (Ref. 9)
- Protective fences were installed on the sports fields (Ref. 9)
- Wherever necessary, stairs and ramps for people with disabilities were installed (Ref. 9)
- Citizens in the area are involved in planting and watering activities (Ref. 5)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Other
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
- Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , Elderly people, People with functional diversities
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
- Co-management/Joint management
- Other
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
In 2019 its reconstruction was initiated by the President of the Republic of Serbia, Aleksandar Vučić. everything that was done there was carried out by the Public Utility Company "Zelenilo - Belgrade" (Ref. 4)
"He [the mayor of Belgrade] emphasized that he supported this project even before he was mayor because, as he said, he always supports a good cause." (Ref. 6). specifically "[...]an additional 150 million was provided by the City of Belgrade. The city will finance the works in Block 70." (Ref. 4)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
No
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Master Plan of Belgrade 2021 (spatial planning) and the Action Plan for Climate Change Adaptation)
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Public national budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of goods
- Provision of labour
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Expected lowered local temperature
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
- Achieved increased ecological connectivity across regeneration sites and scales
Economic impacts
- Increased property prices
- Expected increased property prices
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved liveability
- Achieved improved liveability
- Improved access to urban green space
- Achieved improved access to urban green space
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Improved physical health
- Expected improved physical health
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
- Expected protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Type of reported 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
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Environmental quality and environmental hazards, Inadequate drainage that leads to stagnant water accumulation
References
1.
Simić, I., Stupar A., Djokić, V. (2017). Building the Green Infrastructure of Belgrade: The Importance of Community Greening. Basel: Sustainability, p. 1-16 Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Dragutinovic, A. (2023). Mass Housing Neighbourhoods and Urban Commons: Values-based Governance and Intervention Framework for New Belgrade Blocks. TU Delft , Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Đokić, N., Grujić, M. (2015). Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan and Vulnerability Assessment. Belgrade: Secretariat for Environmental Protection, Accessed on August 17, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Kurir (2021). Znate li gde je Beogradu Šetaliste Lazaro Kardenas: Tu živi 40.000 ljudi i zato se obnavlja! Evo kako će izgledati (FOTO). Accessed on August 18, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Beloica, J. (2022.). Stopirani radovi: Novobeograđani će na obnovu šetališta "Lazaro Kardenas" morati da pričekaju, evo šta je razlog . 24 Sedam, Accessed on August 18, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Telegraf (2022). Šapić: Nastavljeno uređenje šetališta „Lazaro Kardenas”, uskoro na red dolaze splavovi. Accessed on August 18, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Vlogzilla Vibes (2024). Beogradsko novo šetalište novobeogradskih blokova-LAZARO KARDENASA završen treći deo radova. Accessed on August 18, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Blok 70 -Zajednička Akcija (2024). Blok 70 -Zajednička Akcija. Accessed on August 18, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Beogradski Izlet (n.d.). Lazaro Cardenas Promenade . Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Talevski, L-Đ. (n.d.). Na ovo šetalište Novobeograđani čekaju više od pola veka: Poznat datum kraja obnove "Lazaro Kardenasa" . Accessed on August 19, 2024, [Source link];
Plan of the urban green corridor on site
https://24sedam.rs/beograd/vesti/173171/setaliste-lazaro-kardenas-novi-beograd-blok-70/vest
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.