Last updated: October 2021
The project aims at realizing a large urban park to link the city and the sea coast. It is a project of significant social value, as it takes place in a neighbourhood which has been in a state of decay for 50 years. The intervention includes new facilities for recreation and sport, but first of all new plantations and the creation of rooftop gardens. It would be the second-largest park of the city, by linking the city and the sea. (Ref.1.)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Blue infrastructure
- Coastlines
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Regulation of built environment
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Combatting crime and corruption
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Tourism support
- Real estate development
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Promotion of cultural diversity
- Preservation of historic traditions
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas
Project objectives
The goal of the intervention is to transform the entire area of the neighbourhood, which will be turned into a huge green area. The creation of walking and cycling paths will increase the accessibility of the zone, which will provide multiple services. Additionally, the area will be home of several species of animals and plants, preserving biodiversity, as well as offer cultural and social services related to recreational activities (there will be the presence of restaurants, bars and playgrounds). (Ref.1.)
Implementation activities
The masterplan of urban regeneration of the San Berillo neighbourhood has been a long process, initiated by the municipality but involving at the same time private actors to develop the project in practice. After an announcement by the municipality, the architect studio Mario Cuccinella and Studio Land presented a project of regeneration which was approved by the city (Ref. 1&2)
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
- 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
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Municipality of Catania was the initiator of the project, they identified the guidelines for the regeneration process and published an announcement to identify possible private studios to design the intervention. The city co-funded the project according to the local urban strategy for sustainable development. Studio Mario Cuccinella and Studio Land: delegated to design the project, following the guidelines and the request of the city. Parsitalia group: private association developer of the area, which owns parts of the neighbourhood and had to concede private space for the intervention (Ref. 1,2 &3)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Interventions at urban level for the neighbourhoods in Catania (and for sustainable urban regeneration in general) are regulated by the "Strategia urbana di sviluppo sostenibile" (Urban strategy for sustainable development) (Ref.3.))
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
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 land
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Private sector (businesses, financial institution)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Increased conversion of degraded land or soil
- Reduced biodiversity loss
- Restoration of derelict areas
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
- Attraction of business and investment
Socio-cultural impacts
- Safety
- Increased perception of safety
- Decreased crime rates
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Expected 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. Il giornale dell'architetture (2015). Parola d’ordine a Catania e Taranto: rigenerazione urbana!. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.2. Impreseedili (2013). San Berillo, come i giardini pensili di Babilonia. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.3. Comune di Catania (2016). PON METRO Strategia Integrata di Sviluppo Urbano Sostenibile Documento di sintesi. Catania: pp. 1-42, Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref. 4 Lasciliaweb (2019), Catania, piazza Grenoble si rifà il look, Available at Source link, (Accessed 17-7-2020)
Ref.2. Impreseedili (2013). San Berillo, come i giardini pensili di Babilonia. Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref.3. Comune di Catania (2016). PON METRO Strategia Integrata di Sviluppo Urbano Sostenibile Documento di sintesi. Catania: pp. 1-42, Available at Source link (Accessed 20-6-2020)
Ref. 4 Lasciliaweb (2019), Catania, piazza Grenoble si rifà il look, Available at Source link, (Accessed 17-7-2020)