Cagliari, Cagliari (FUA), Italy
City population: 384743
Duration: 2021 – 2021
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: 300 m2
Type of area: Previous derelict area
Last updated: October 2024

The project, implemented by the municipality of Cagliari, involves the creation of a new garden in 2021 on Via Eroi d’Italia, in the Pirri municipality, located about 5 km from the center of Cagliari. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reclaim degraded urban green spaces. The garden spans approximately 900 square meters and was previously an unused lot serving as a parking area. Its transformation required substantial groundwork, including soil scarification and leveling, to prepare the area for its new purpose. The garden is now enclosed, with pedestrian access via two gates leading to a paved walkway. Inside, the garden is divided into two main sections: a children's play area and a landscaped green space. The play area covers about 100 square meters and features durable artificial grass, swings, a spring toy, a universally accessible table, a children's table, benches, and a multi-compartment recycling bin. The green space, approximately 200 square meters, is planted with low-water-use grass and surrounded by drought-resistant plants like albizia, oleander, and lantana, chosen for their low water consumption and resilience to environmental stress. An underground irrigation system, linked to a 5,000-liter water tank, ensures efficient water use. The remaining 600 sqm outside forms a parking area with 1 disabled space, 2 motorcycle spaces, 1 bicycle rack, and 15 car spaces. The garden also incorporates sustainable elements, such as LED lighting for energy efficiency and a mural by renowned Sardinian artist Manu Invisible, depicting sunlit forest undergrowth in shades of green. This project responds to citizens' requests and prioritizes resource efficiency by reducing hazardous substances and minimizing waste. The materials used, including recycled plastics, and the selection of plants were chosen to match local ecological conditions, enhancing the garden's sustainability and reducing its environmental impact (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

Photo of the playground area and of the rest of the amenties implemented within the project.
Photo of the playground area and of the rest of the amenties implemented within the project.
SH Magazine. 2021. “Cagliari, La Nuova Area Verde Di via Eroi d’Italia Restituita Alla Città.” S&H Magazine - L’informazione Sarda Dal 1996. S&H MAGAZINE. October 23, 2021. https://www.shmag.it/sardegna/cagliari/23_10_2021/cagliari-la-nuova-area-verde-di-via-eroi-ditalia-restituita-alla-citta/.

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
  • Environmental quality
  • Soil quality improvement
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Regulation of built environment
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Water security
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
  • Inclusive governance
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social justice and equity
  • Social interaction
  • Sense of community and community engagement

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

  • Environmental Degradation
  • Soil degradation and loss
  • Land use and Socio-economic change
  • Limited economic opportunities and local livelihoods
  • Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
  • Loss of sense of place and identity
  • Poor community engagement

Key priorities

Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Social Justice and community

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Ecological restoration of ecosystems, Soil remediation and revegetation, Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality

Project objectives

To transform a previously neglected space into an accessible, and sustainable green area for the local community to enjoy and socialize. To enhance urban greenery by creating a functional and aesthetically pleasing garden that serves as a recreational space for residents, particularly children and elderly. To promote environmental sustainability by utilizing drought-resistant plants ( specifically selected based on low water consumption and high resistance to environmental stress and phytopathologies), implementing efficient irrigation systems (underground sub-irrigation system) that enhance soil health, and incorporating eco-friendly materials. To serve as an example of how small green spaces can incorporate all the qualities of larger urban green areas, serving as a model that can be replicated in many other parts of the city. To foster inclusive governance by addressing citizens' requests and prioritizing resource efficiency in the project. (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

Implementation activities

The project began with a survey revealing that residents were hesitant to give up this informal parking space but expressed a strong need for a recreational area with greenery and play facilities for children, given the lack of equipped public green spaces nearby. To accommodate both parking and recreation, the area was divided into designated sections, separated by a 150 cm high green wire mesh fence, discreetly concealed by hedges. The internal space features two sections: a 100-square-meter children's play area with high-resistance artificial turf, including a swing, spring toy, accessible and children's tables, a fountain, two benches, and a recycling bin. The second section, approximately 200 square meters, consists of low-water paspalum vaginatum grass. The perimeter is landscaped with drought-resistant plants such as albizia, oleander, and lantana, which attract pollinators. An underground sub-irrigation system, connected to a 5,000-liter tank from the city water network, manages watering by monitoring soil moisture and adjusting irrigation accordingly. The project also included a mural by Manu Invisible (a local artist), depicting a forest undergrowth to highlight sustainability and a lighting system that features 4 energy-saving led lights placed on pole at the height of 3.5 meters. There are also 8 energy-saving LED spotlights to illuminate the existing mural. The remaining 600 sqm outside forms a parking area with 1 disabled , 2 motorcycle and 15 cars spaces (1-5)

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Implement measures that prevent/manage desertification, soil erosion and landslides

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

- Comune di Cagliari: it played a key role in planning and overseeing the project as part of its broader initiative to revitalize degraded urban green spaces. They were responsible for securing and providing funding, managing project implementation through one of its departments, and ensuring that the design met the community's needs. - Local Community and Residents: The input and feedback from local residents were crucial in shaping the garden to meet their needs. (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Type of enablers

Unknown

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

  • Earmarked public budget

Non-financial contribution

No

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Climate change
  • Energy efficiency improvements
  • Achieved energy efficiency improvements
  • Environmental quality
  • Improved soil quality
  • Expected improved soil quality
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Achieved increased green space area
  • Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
  • Achieved increased conversion of degraded land or soil
  • Increased number of species present
  • Achieved increased number of species present
  • Enhanced support of pollination
  • Achieved enhanced support of pollination

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved liveability
  • Expected improved liveability
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Achieved improved access to urban green space
  • Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
  • Expected increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise

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

Unknown

References

1.
Comune di Cagliari (n.d.). Giardino Via Eroi d'Italia. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
2.
SH Magazine (2021). Cagliari, la nuova area verde di via Eroi d’Italia restituita alla città. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Comune di Cagliari (2021). Cagliari, inaugurazione area verde via Eroi d'Italia. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Neri, E (2021). Svolta green a Pirri, in via Eroi d’Italia un giardino con murale di Manu Invisible. Cagliari: Casteddu Online, [Source link];
5.
Cagliaripad (2021). Pirri, restituita alla città la nuova area verde di via Eroi d’Italia. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Comune di Cagliari (2022). Atlante Demografico di Cagliari 2022. Accessed on August 30, 2024, [Source link];
Photo of the playground area and of the rest of the amenties implemented within the project.
Photo of the playground area and of the rest of the amenties implemented within the project.
SH Magazine. 2021. “Cagliari, La Nuova Area Verde Di via Eroi d’Italia Restituita Alla Città.” S&H Magazine - L’informazione Sarda Dal 1996. S&H MAGAZINE. October 23, 2021. https://www.shmag.it/sardegna/cagliari/23_10_2021/cagliari-la-nuova-area-verde-di-via-eroi-ditalia-restituita-alla-citta/.
Photo of the art piece created by Manu Invisible within the park.
Photo of the art piece created by Manu Invisible within the park.
SH Magazine. 2021. “Cagliari, La Nuova Area Verde Di via Eroi d’Italia Restituita Alla Città.” S&H Magazine - L’informazione Sarda Dal 1996. S&H MAGAZINE. October 23, 2021. https://www.shmag.it/sardegna/cagliari/23_10_2021/cagliari-la-nuova-area-verde-di-via-eroi-ditalia-restituita-alla-citta/.
naturescapes bannerInformation about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.