Bratislava, Slovakia
City population: 410016
Duration: 2015 – 2017
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 10000 m2
Type of area: Central Business District / City Centre
Last updated: October 2021

The present intervention is about the rehabilitation of the freedom square (Námestie hraničiarov) (formerly Gottwald square) in the city district of Petržalka of the city of Bratislava (9, 11). The area of the intervention is about 1 ha. The pavement was replaced by grass areas, trees, and flower beds in the square’s alleys. A water capturing and irrigation system was also installed to ensure resilience to drought. The project was implemented by the city district of Petržalka, which is - with 100,000 inhabitants - one of the larger and most densely populated districts of Bratislava. (1)

Liberty Square Perennial Plantation
Bratislava Zalenaj Sa
http://bratislavazelenajsa.sk/?page_id=24&lang=en

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Other
  • Green areas for water management
  • Sustainable urban drainage systems

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Environmental quality
  • Air quality improvement
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Creation of new green areas

Project objectives

The main goal of the project was to reconstruct the alleys on the Square of Freedom (Liberty Square). The sub-goals included, removal of 1 ha of the pavement and replace with grass, trees, and flower beds. To install water capturing and irrigation systems to ensure resilience to drought. In addition, installation of recreational areas (playground, climbing frames, recreational areas for adults). (1, 20)

Implementation activities

The first phase of implementation involves the felling of disruptive or poor health trees and root systems to make space for the implementation of the squares recreational and green areas. The second stage involves the implementation of said areas as well as restoration of the fountain's pipeline and the construction of water retention measures. Also, reconstruction of roads, sidewalks and passages and implementation of new cycle routes. (8, 9, 14)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
  • Increase the use of climate-resilient plant species (resistant to drought, fire, and pests)

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Marginalized groups: Elderly people
  • Young people and children

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 coordinates 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) Subsequent budgetary limitations to the project's involvement with this NBS led to the involvement of property developer HB Reavis in May 2017. (8)

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, 3, 5, 6, 16))

Financing

Total cost

€500,000 - €2,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Corporate investment
  • Other

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget
  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
  • Equity funding (investment in shares)

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

  • Climate change
  • Enhanced carbon sequestration
  • Environmental quality
  • Improved air quality
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Increased number of species present

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved social cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Improved mental health
  • Other

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
(2) Zelena Architektura. (2015). Bratislava sa pripravuje na zmenu klímy. Retrieved from Source link
(3) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. [no date]. Who we are. Retrieved from Source link
(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
(5) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. (2012). Adapation to Climate Change - Flood and Drought Prevention. Retrieved from Source link
(6) Záhorová, Ľubomíra. (2017). Bratislava, zelenaj sa! Retrieved from Source link
(7) Vašuta, Tomáš. (2017). Mesto a HB Reavis sa zbližujú, developer zaplatí opravu námestia. Bratislava. News and Media Holding. Retrieved from Source link
(8) Blaško, Dušan. (2016). Námestie slobody môže byť parkom, zatiaľ sa hľadajú peniaze na opravu. Bratislava. Retrieved from Source link
(9) Obecný úrad. (2012). Rekonštrukcia Námestia slobody. Retrieved from Source link
(10) Tkáčiková, Lucia. (2013). S fontánou na Námestí slobody pri plánoch garáží nepočítajú. Retrieved from Source link
(11) Bratislava24. (2016). Plány na rok 2017: Mesto opraví fontánu, postaví nové parkoviská aj cyklochodníky. Retrieved from Source link
(12) Návrhu, Popis. (2015). ZNOVUZRODENIE FONTÁNY DRUŽBA NA NÁMESTÍ SLOBODY V BRATISLAVE. Retrieved from Source link
(13) Hebertová, Viera. (2015). Bratislavské Námestie slobody čaká oprava, fontánu Družba zatiaľ nie. Retrieved from Source link
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