Bratislava, Slovakia
City population: 410016
Duration: unknown – 2017
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 5000 m2
Type of area: Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: October 2021

The revitalisation of the park Gaštanica Koliba in Bratislava Nove Mesto is intended to stop the degradation of its ecosystem, preserving existing vegetation while improving the local climate and efficient use of rainwater. Over 100 trees were treated, including some of the local population of chestnut trees. A local seepage pit was installed to retain water both to the benefit of the local vegetation as well as to prevent erosion and landslides. The park has also been fitted with recreational facilities and is now illuminated to improve its accessibility for the local population. (7, 8, 9)

Gastanica Park
Bratislava Zalenaj Sa
http://bratislavazelenajsa.sk/?page_id=20&lang=en

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests
  • Green areas for water management
  • Sustainable urban drainage systems

Key challenges

  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Habitat and biodiversity restoration
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Environmental quality
  • Air quality improvement
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for relaxation and recreation

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature, Ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems

Project objectives

The revitalisation of the park Gaštanica Koliba in Bratislava Nove Mesto is intended to stop the degradation of its ecosystem, preserving existing vegetation while improving the local climate and efficient use of rainwater. The objectives included treating 140 trees, including some of the local population of chestnut trees, to install a local seepage pit to retain water both to the benefit of the local vegetation as well as to prevent erosion and landslides. Also, to fit with recreational facilities and to improve the lighting for better accessibility for the local population. (8)

Implementation activities

Benches, litter bins, lamps, playground, fitness machines, exercise, running tracks for dogs and sidewalks with water permeable concrete were included among other recreational and ecological facilities. The permeable surfaces ensure that rainwater does not flow away from the park, but is permeable to water in the subsoil. In addition, in the Gaštanica were seepage pits installed to hold water and then release it gradually into the soil and the roots of trees. Radically diseased trees were felled and burned while more than 140 trees were treated, making room for subsequent planting. It also included: - 140 trees treated - 29 new trees added (Netherland chestnuts, as well as oak and hornbeam) - implemented across a 5000 square meter park (8)

Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities

Biodiversity restoration:

  • Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems
  • Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified)
  • Restore valued species

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Unknown

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

Bratislava City Office provides overall coordination of the pan-project named "Bratislava is preparing for climate change - pilot application of the measures in the field of sustainable rainwater". Apart from the city districts, cooperation on the project was sought with the Bratislava Regional Conservation Association, Bratislava Water Company, City Committee of Slovak Nature and Landscape Conservation Union, City Forest in Bratislava, Comenius University in Bratislava, Nature Sciences Faculty to involve them in the plans. The Norwegian partner COWI was involved because of its experience in the field and to underline the spirit of the EEA Grants and Norway Grants regarding international cooperation. (1, 3, 5, 6)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The NBS is as part of the project ‘Bratislava is preparing for climate change’ a practical contribution to the implementation of the City of Bratislava's prepared and approved Adaptation Action Plan. (1, 2, 5, 6))

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding or subsidy

Non-financial contribution

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

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved air quality
  • Improved soil quality
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Reduced biodiversity loss

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Safety
  • Increased perception of safety
  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Improved mental health
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure

Type of reported 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 evidence in public records

References

(1) Rehackova,Tamara. (2016). EEA grants supporting the city of Bratislava to implement climate adaptation measures. Retrieved from Source link on 30th October, 2020.
(2) Zelena Architektura. (2015). Bratislava sa pripravuje na zmenu klímy. Retrieved from Source link on 30th October, 2020.
(3) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. [no date]. Who we are. Retrieved from Source link on 30th October, 2020.
(4) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. [no date]. City Of Bratislava Is Preparing To The Climate Change – The Pilot Application Of The Measures In The Field Of The Sustainable Rainwater Management In Urban Area. Retrieved from Source link on 30th October, 2020.
(5) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. (2012). Adapation to Climate Change - Flood and Drought Prevention. Retrieved from Source link on 30th October, 2020.
(6) Záhorová, Ľubomíra. (2017). Bratislava, zelenaj sa! Retrieved from Source link on 30th October, 2020.
(7) SITA. (2017). Obnovený park Gaštanica na Kolibe chcú otvoriť v máji. Retrieved from Source link on 30th October, 2020.
(8) Bratislava, zelenaj sa. [no date]. Bratislava sa pripravuje na zmenu klímy – pilotná aplikácia opatrení v oblasti zadržiavania zrážok v urbanizovanom prostredí.
(9) Kozova, Maria, Pauditsova, Eva and Hudekova, Zuzana. (2016). RESIN: City Assessment Report Bratislava. Bratislava.
(10) Ulrych, Libor. (2015). Climate changes ongoing projects, activities in the Carpathian region Slovakia. 4th Meeting of the Carpathian Convention Working Group on Adaptation to Climate Change.
(11) Perks, Jonathan. (2013). Adaptation Strategies for European Cities: Final Report. Harwell. Ricardo-AEA.
(12) Juhász, Martina. (2017). Na Kolibe pribudol nový park. Retrieved from Source link on 30th October, 2020.