Bratislava, Slovakia
City population: 410016
Duration: 2017 – 2017
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: 850 m2
Type of area: Previous derelict area, Central Business District / City Centre
Last updated: October 2021

The Svoradova small park is an NBS site of the Bratislava zelenaj project. The newly renovated park (once part of the historical Pálffy Garden) on Svoradova Street in Old Town was previously abandoned and neglected. (14) It is part of the citywide Bratislava zelenaj project aimed at protecting and promoting the welfare of the city’s vulnerable citizens from the effects of climate change, (1) providing a safe recreational space for children (with a small playground for playing and swings). The park also has new lighting, and the whole space is home to new flowers, bridges and trees. (10, 12, 18)

Svoradova Park
Bratislava 24
https://bratislava.dnes24.sk/galeria/parcik-svoradova-9-maj-66926/fotografia-4?articleId=269542

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces

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)
  • Improving mental health
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas

Project objectives

The main objective was to help eliminate the negative effects of climate change through (a) planting of new plants and trees, (b) supporting of nesting birds and insects, (c) management of rainwater by collecting rainwater in rain gardens and (d) introducing water-permeable surfaces over the entire space of the park. (10, 18)

Implementation activities

The construction works began in February 2017 and were completed in April 2017. (7, 11) Firstly, invasive woods were removed, then terrain was modified, and parts of the historic wall from Podjavorinska Street were corrected under the supervision of the KPU, while benches were mounted, and the bulk of graphites were removed. A stage and a new entrance to the park from Svoradova Street were installed, while electricity and wifi was introduced and new greenery was planted. The gravel was chosen so that precipitation water requires a limited space of contact between the planar surface and the beginning of the rising terrain to prevent water from flooding the surface with precipitation water, especially from the concrete exposed part of the container, especially at intense precipitation. The construction of the gully consisted of dredging the narrow terrain strip and layering of the gravel. (7, 11, 12, 14)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
  • Create or improve outdoor spaces to help people escape from urban heat

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • 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 provides overall coordination of the project named "Bratislava is preparing for climate change - pilot application of the measures in the field of sustainable rainwater", along with relevant subsidiary city districts for specific interventions. The relevant district for this intervention is Nové Mesto. 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)

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))

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget
  • Other

Type of funding

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

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
  • Lowered local temperature
  • Environmental quality
  • Improved air quality
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Safety
  • Increased perception of safety
  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved social cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise

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 28th October, 2020.
(2) Zelena Architektura. (2015). Bratislava sa pripravuje na zmenu klímy. Retrieved from Source link on 28th October, 2020.
(3) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. [no date]. Who we are. Retrieved from Source link on 28th October, 2020.
(4) Bratislava Zelenai SA (n.d.) Pocket park Svoradová – new public space. Retrieved from Source link on 28th October, 2020.
(5) 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 28th October, 2020.
(6) EEA Grants and Norway Grants. (2012). Adapation to Climate Change - Flood and Drought Prevention. Retrieved from Source link on 28th October, 2020.
(7) Záhorová, Ľubomíra. (2017). Bratislava, zelenaj sa! Retrieved from Source link on 28th October, 2020.
(8) Trfihi Parks (n.d.). Park Svoradova. Retrieved from Source link on 28th October, 2020.
(9) Magistad, Inga. (2015). Bratislava and Zvolen go green! Retrieved from Source link on 28th October, 2020
(10) Haršany, Jakub. (2016). Nový parčík Svoradova ponúkne priestor pre oddych aj kultúru. Retrieved from
Source link on 28th October, 2020
(11) Bátrnová, Iveta. (2017). Parčíku Svoradova v hlavnom meste vdýchli nový život. Pozrite sa, ako krásne teraz vyzerá. Retrieved from Source link on 28th October, 2020
(12) Source link. (2016). Nový parčík Svoradova ponúkne oddych, šport, rekreáciu aj kultúru. Retrieved from
Source link on 28th October, 2020.
(13) Kozova, Maria, Pauditsova, Eva and Hudekova, Zuzana. (2016). RESIN: City Assessment Report Bratislava. Bratislava.
(14) Bratislava City Department of Architecture. [no date]. Nový verejný priestor Svoradova: štúdia revitalizácie a sprístupnenia priestoru pre verejnosť.
(15) Bratislava, zelenaj sa. [no date]. Bratislava sa pripravuje na zmenu klímy – pilotná aplikácia opatrení v oblasti zadržiavania zrážok v urbanizovanom prostredí.
(16) 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.
(17) Perks, Jonathan. (2013). Adaptation Strategies for European Cities: Final Report. Harwell. Ricardo-AEA.
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