Last updated: October 2021
Slachthuisplein in the Hague, a large public grey square was transformed into a green ‘oasis’ which provides recreational facilities for adults and a playground for children. The citizens and children were involved in the design of the green square and the initiative was selected by the municipality as one of their climate change adaptation measures as it stores stormwater. (1,2,5).
Source: https://duurzaamdenhaag.nl/nieuws/slachthuisplein-is-een-groene-oase-voor-kinderen-en-ouders
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Green playgrounds and school grounds
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Community gardens and allotments
- Community gardens
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- 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
- Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
- Inclusive governance
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social cohesion
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
1. Turn a grey square into a green 'oasis' where citizens can meet and children can play, which contributes to social cohesion and improves the quality of life in the neighbourhood. (1,4,5).
2. Social cohesion: citizens work together on initiatives to support social interaction on the square (6). Improvement of quality of life of citizens in the neighbourhood: by allowing for more types of exercise for children and by adding vegetation such as flowers. (4).
3. Promote citizens' participation in the park development process that also aims to strengthen the sense of belonging. Therefore, citizens were involved in the planning, the selection of the design and a part of the maintenance (4).
Promote social equity, as employment-training opportunities for unemployed youths were created with the construction of the public square and activities are organized that increase the accessibility of citizens in need of help (6).
Implementation activities
- 50 children and citizens proposed ideas and made drawings regarding the development of the green public squares which led to three designs. Then, they were allowed to vote for the designs and the design with the most votes was realized. (4).
- Removal of the former pavement and replacing it with grass and vegetation (including flowers) (4).
- Creation of a small vegetable garden for women of Resto Van Harte (restaurant/NGO) (4)
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
- Marginalized groups: Elderly people, Other
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)
- Dissemination of information and education
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The municipality, the City Counsel Member Rabin Baldewsingh, initiated the project in light of the 'Wijkaanpak' (Neighbourhood Improvement Plan) (1,4,6). The neighbourhood is known for citizens with relatively low social-economic status and a large amount of 'grey areas' (lack of green spaces) (7). Rabin Baldewsingh mobilized citizens and children to come up with ideas for the design of the public square. Children made drawings and citizens proposed ideas and Jan Verburg of GKB Group (project developer) designed the green public square [4]. The project developer implemented the project and the public square is mainly maintained by the municipality but citizens and volunteers of a primary school also help with the maintenance (5).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The 'Wijkaanpak Nieuw Stijl' (Neighbourhood Improvement Plan New Style) of the municipality in 2015, which is a strategy for 7 neighbourhoods in The Hague that are facing problems such as poverty and unemployment. In this plan, the municipality (financially) supports projects that improve social cohesion, living climate and citizen participation. The redevelopment of Slachthuisplan is one of the projects that is financed through this policy (6).)
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of goods
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Promotion of cultural diversity
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. Duurzaam Den Haag. (n.d.). Slachthuisplein is een groene oase voor kinderen en ouders! Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
2. Gemeente Den Haag. (n.d.). Den Haag klimaatbestendig maken. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
3. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Agenda Groen voor de Stad. The Hague: municipality of The Hague. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
4. Den Haag FM. (2015). Slachthuisplein wordt heringericht tot groene weide. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
5. Romero Cabrera, N. (2016). Vernieuwde Slachthuisplein heropend: veel groen, ruimte voor recreatie en bijkletsen Website not available
6. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Eerste Voortgangsrapportage Wijkaanpak Nieuwe Stijl 'Opwaartse Kracht!' 2015-2018. The Hague: Muicipality of The Hague. Accessed on November 9, 2020,Source link
7. Operatie Steenbreek. (n.d.) In beeld: Operatie Steenbreek, Slachthuisplein Den Haag. Accessed on November 9, 2020,Source link.
2. Gemeente Den Haag. (n.d.). Den Haag klimaatbestendig maken. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
3. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Agenda Groen voor de Stad. The Hague: municipality of The Hague. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
4. Den Haag FM. (2015). Slachthuisplein wordt heringericht tot groene weide. Accessed on November 9, 2020, Source link
5. Romero Cabrera, N. (2016). Vernieuwde Slachthuisplein heropend: veel groen, ruimte voor recreatie en bijkletsen Website not available
6. Gemeente Den Haag. (2016). Eerste Voortgangsrapportage Wijkaanpak Nieuwe Stijl 'Opwaartse Kracht!' 2015-2018. The Hague: Muicipality of The Hague. Accessed on November 9, 2020,Source link
7. Operatie Steenbreek. (n.d.) In beeld: Operatie Steenbreek, Slachthuisplein Den Haag. Accessed on November 9, 2020,Source link.