Last updated: November 2021
A project of the local government developed with EU and federal funds that aimed at the development of the green and beach area in the course of the refurbishment of the flood protection system. The initiative sought to provide a model project for urban flood protection, which can showcase that flood protection measures do not require a separation between city and water and new recreational spaces at the water and shore can be created instead. The project involves redevelopment of the shore area, enlargement of the public space at the shore with additional sand deposit and greenery planting (Ref. 1, 2). The bank area with a beach and recreational facilities opened in May 2019 (Ref. 5).
https://www.ueberseestadt-bremen.de/de/page/ueberseestadt-uebersicht/waller-sand
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Flood protection
- 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)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Real estate development
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
Goals of the intervention:
1) Development of the green and beach area in the course of the refurbishment of the flood protection system in order to provide additional recreational space and to anchor the history of the Bremen port more firmly in public awareness;
2) Creating a new attraction in the city, which will compensate for free-space deficiencies in the adjoining district of Gröpelingen and thus create impulses for the development of neighboring quarters in the Bremer West;
3) Providing a model project for the urban flood protection (necessary due to climate change), which shows how flood protection measures do not require a separation between city and water and new spaces for the water and shore experiences can be created instead;
4) Developing an urban hinge project, with the new recreation center bringing the city of Bremen and Überseestadt Gröpelingen and Walle closer together (Ref. 1, 3).
Implementation activities
Applying the so-called 'rinsing dikes' along the future new water edge, which are then rinsed with sand until the final level is reached; Installing a deck of building blocks on the water side in front of the rinsing dikes; Enlarging the public space at the shore with additional sand deposit; Redesigning the beach area; Greenery planting; Creating a barrier-free access to the waterfront in the lower beach area; Building new connections to the adjoining streets and squares; Building new play facilities (Ref. 1, 2).
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)
- Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Local government developed the project proposal and applied for funds from the federal government and the EU for its implementation (Ref. 1, 2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was supported by the European Union ERDF programme and the federal government (Ref. 3, 4).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project is supported by the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Construction and Nuclear Safety as well as the European ERDF Program within the framework of the federal program "National Projects of Urban Development - Future Investment Program" (Bundesprogramm Nationale Projekte des Städtebaus) (Ref. 3, 4).)
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public national budget
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
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
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts, Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Freie Hansestadt Bremen (2019). 'A beach for the Bremer West' ('Ein Strand für den Bremer Westen'). Available at:
Source link (Accessed: October 24, 2020).
2. Uberseestadt Bremen (n.d.). 'Soft edge - water oriented resort. Beach park in sight' ('Weiche Kante - wasserorientierter Naherholungsort. Strandpark in Sicht'). Available at: Source link (Website not available in 2020).
3. Bundesinstitut fur Bau-, Stadt-, und Raumforschung (2020). 'National program of urban development projects' (Bundesprogramm Nationale Projekte des Städtebaus) Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 24, 2020).
4. Senate Press Office (2017). 'Start of the construction of the Beach Park's Soft edge' (Baubeginn für Strandpark Weiche Kante). Available at:
Source link (Accessed: October 24, 2020).
5. Uberseestadt Bremen (2019). 'Waller Sand - water-oriented local recreation area Beach park opened!' (Waller Sand - wasserorientierter Naherholungsort Strandpark eröffnet!). Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 24, 2020).
Source link (Accessed: October 24, 2020).
2. Uberseestadt Bremen (n.d.). 'Soft edge - water oriented resort. Beach park in sight' ('Weiche Kante - wasserorientierter Naherholungsort. Strandpark in Sicht'). Available at: Source link (Website not available in 2020).
3. Bundesinstitut fur Bau-, Stadt-, und Raumforschung (2020). 'National program of urban development projects' (Bundesprogramm Nationale Projekte des Städtebaus) Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 24, 2020).
4. Senate Press Office (2017). 'Start of the construction of the Beach Park's Soft edge' (Baubeginn für Strandpark Weiche Kante). Available at:
Source link (Accessed: October 24, 2020).
5. Uberseestadt Bremen (2019). 'Waller Sand - water-oriented local recreation area Beach park opened!' (Waller Sand - wasserorientierter Naherholungsort Strandpark eröffnet!). Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 24, 2020).