Last updated: October 2021
The park, dedicated to the Sicilian judge assassinated by the mafia in the early 90s, was the object of a regeneration project by two associations (with the approval of the municipality). The initiative was practically implemented by kids of several schools in Catania, which were invited to the park with the intention of cleaning the area to make the spot available to new plants and trees. This is not just a natural intervention, it is of great cultural and social value for the importance of the character for the city and region. (Ref.1.)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
Key challenges
- 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
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Knowledge creation and awareness raising
Project objectives
The initiative is addressed to the schools of Catania and citizens who aimed to improve the conditions of the park. The plantation of plants and new flowers aimed at regenerating the green area and to make it more attractive for residents and visitors. An important outcome of the intervention is the social inclusiveness, and the educational value of the initiative for the kids (Ref.1.)
Implementation activities
The project is an initiative of the non-profit organization CittàInsieme, which with the authorization of the municipality of Catania involved schools and citizens in this regeneration process. In specific days of last May, all the actors worked together in the park to complete the intervention (Ref.2.)
Main beneficiaries
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
CittàInsieme = initiators of the project, implementing guidelines and activities. In addition, they involved the other actors;
Municipality of Catania = allowed the association to implement the intervention in a public open space. They also provided small funds;
Schools = collaboration in the initiative for the days established;
CItizens = volunteers had the chance to participate.
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The intervention was possible because of the Piano regolatore della città (PRG, regulatory plan of the city), which established the green areas where initiatives can take place (Ref.3.))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Unknown
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Improvement in people’s connection to nature
- Increased awareness of flora and fauna as culturally and historically meaningful
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
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
Ref.1. LiveSiciliaCatania (2017). Parco Falcone, domenica l'iniziativa di Cittainsieme. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.2. Source link (2017). “Capaci X Cambiare”, una giornata di riqualificazione del Parco Falcone. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.2. Source link (2017). “Capaci X Cambiare”, una giornata di riqualificazione del Parco Falcone. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)