Iași, Iaşi (FUA), Romania
City population: 342738
Duration: 2022 – 2023
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: 3000 m2
Type of area: Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: October 2024

The Phoenix Park initiative was carried out by the "Gheorghe Asachi" Technical University of Iași in partnership with the Iași Communitarian Foundation, the BorgWagner Fund, and the Municipality of Iași. It involved the rehabilitation of a green space within the university campus. Covering an area of 3,000 square meters, the renovation was based on the winning design from a student competition focused on improving campus spaces. The park was designed to include facilities for physical exercise (calisthenics equipment), recreation (badminton court and ping-pong table), and social interaction spaces. It also serves as a buffer to reduce noise from the surrounding areas. The total cost of the project amounted to 121,200 euros, with the university covering infrastructure expenses, the municipality providing the labor for rehabilitation, and the private fund contributing 15,150 euros. The implementation of the design was overseen by the student designer and coordinated by the NGO and the university’s Association of Student Architects. This initiative is part of a larger urban regeneration project by the university, in collaboration with the municipality and the Communitarian Foundation, where several campus green spaces are being rehabilitated based on student designs. The overarching goal is to enhance students' quality of life and promote healthy lifestyles through the creation of green spaces during their time at the university. (1, 2, 5, 6, 8, 13, p. 92)

Green spaces and trees in the park
Green spaces and trees in the park
https://www.google.com/search?q=parc+phoenix+iasi&client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=f03d7cceb14fcf1a&ei=4pfQZpClEsCQwPAPvsWR8Ak#lpg=ik:CAoSLEFGMVFpcFBBSDYtcFpFcWNuY2cyMmpzTDVIa1dKLU5Cc0Ziay02cEFsd3ZD

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces

Key challenges

  • Environmental quality
  • Noise reduction
  • 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)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
  • Inclusive governance
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social interaction

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

  • Land use and Socio-economic change
  • Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
  • Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
  • Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
  • Poor community engagement

Key priorities

Social Justice and community

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities

Project objectives

1. Rehabilitating the green spaces of the university campus and improving access and usage of green space in the campus, promoting healthy lifestyles (1 & 2 & 6). 2. Improving the quality of life and liveability of the students (1 & 2 & 6). 3. To include students in the design of green spaces (1 & 2 & 6). 4. To provide adequate spaces for recreation, exercise, and social interaction to their students (1 & 2). 5. To foster urban regeneration through partnerships with different actors (1 & 2 & 5 & 6). 6. Reducing exposure to noise (2).

Implementation activities

The project involved the rehabilitation of 3,000 square meters of green space, which included the implementation of 2,424 square meters of green surface, an irrigation system, 150 meters of pathways throughout the park, two access paths, and lighting installations. Additionally, the initiative incorporated various facilities for exercise and recreation, such as calisthenics equipment, a badminton court, a ping-pong table, and designated spaces for social interaction. Collaboration with various stakeholders was essential to launching a contest for innovative ideas focused on green space design, engaging students in the process. This approach attracted funding and resources from multiple partners. The winner of the contest, selected by a panel of experts, was responsible for implementing the design in the area.(1, 2, 6, 8, 12)

Main beneficiaries

  • Researchers/University
  • Young people and children

Governance

Management set-up

  • Led by non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Non-government organisation/civil society
  • Researchers/university

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Taskforce groups
  • Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
  • Co-management/Joint management

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The university together with the social civil society organisation organised the solutions contest and provided funding to carry out the project (1 to 7). The municipality provided labour and resources to help rehabilitating the green space (8). A private fund provide additional funding (1 & 2). A comission of experts chosen by the university selected the winner (12). A student designed and needed to be on-site to ensure the adequate implementation of the project's infrastructure (1 & 12). The University prepared a collaboration contract with Fundatia Comunitaria Iasi and the Association of Student Architects of Iasi to implement the project as well (13, p. 92).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Unknown
... a national policy or strategy? Unknown
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (Urban regeneration strategy of the university to revitalize green space through solutions contests (1 & 7). )

Type of enablers

Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching)

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
  • Research organisation / University
  • Private Foundation/Trust

Type of funding

  • Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

No

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Reduced noise exposure
  • Expected reduced noise exposure
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Achieved increased green space area

Economic impacts

  • Generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)
  • Achieved generation of other type of work opportunities (e.g. voluntary, work for rehabilitation)

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 opportunities for social interaction
  • Expected increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
  • 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

Yes

Presence of indicators used in reporting

Yes

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

Yes

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

No evidence in public records

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Unknown

References

1.
Universitatea Tehnică „Gheorghe Asachi” Iasi (2023). TUIASI inaugurează „Parcul Phoenix”, o zonă verde reabilitată din campus cu 600.000 de lei, într-un parteneriat cu Primăria Iași și compania BorgWarner – Universitatea Tehnică „Gheorghe Asachi” din Iaşi. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Direcția Servicii Studențești (2023). Povestea renașterii Parcului „Phoenix”, o colaborare a universității, studenților, mediului privat și primăriei – Campusul studențesc „Tudor Vladimirescu_ – Universitatea Tehnică „Gheorghe Asachi_ din Iași. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Iasi TV (2023). UN NOU PARC STUDENTESC MODERNIZAT - IasiTV Life. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Fundatia Comunitaria Iasi (2023). Raport-2022-FCI. p. 56 Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Ziarul de Iasi (2023). TUIASI inaugureaza parcul phoenix, o zona verde reahabilitata. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
6.
Fundatia Comunitaria Iasi (n.d.). Despre - Fundația Comunitară Iași. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Universitatea Tehnică „Gheorghe Asachi” Iasi (2017). Fundația Comunitară Iași și Universitatea Tehnică oferă 10.000 de lei pentru idei de revitalizare urbană – Universitatea Tehnică „Gheorghe Asachi” din Iaşi. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Primaria Iasi (2022). HOTĂRÂRE privind prelungirea protocolului de colaborare nr. 100774 din 04 Octombrie 2018 incheiat cu Universitatea Tehnică “Gheorghe Asachi” din Iaşi pentru perioada 2022-2023. Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
9.
George Cristian (2024). Care sunt cele mai nepoluate, sigure și curate cartiere din Iași_. BZI , Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
10.
STORIA (n.d. ). Vocea Cartierelor - TRAI - Opinion on Tudor Vladimirescu . Accessed on August 29, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Inter Imobiliare (2022). Cartierul Tudor Vladimirescu. Aici se da startul in inchirierea de apartamente pentru studentii Iasului.. [Source link];
12.
Campusul "Tudor Vladimirescu" (2022). Fundația Comunitară Iași și BorgWarner oferă 5.000 de euro într-un concurs de idei de proiecte inovatoare . Direcția Servicii Studențești, Accessed on September 30, 2024, [Source link];
13.
Universităţii Tehnice „Gheorghe Asachi” (2023). RAPORT PRIVIND STAREA UNIVERSITĂȚII TEHNICE „GHEORGHE ASACHI” DIN IAȘI PENTRU ANUL 2022. Iasi : p. 92. Accessed on September 30, 2024, [Source link];
14.
Andrei, A. (2017 ). Cel mai mic cartier din Iași are 83 hectare. APIX , Accessed on September 30, 2024, [Source link];
Green spaces and trees in the park
Green spaces and trees in the park
https://www.google.com/search?q=parc+phoenix+iasi&client=firefox-b-d&sca_esv=f03d7cceb14fcf1a&ei=4pfQZpClEsCQwPAPvsWR8Ak#lpg=ik:CAoSLEFGMVFpcFBBSDYtcFpFcWNuY2cyMmpzTDVIa1dKLU5Cc0Ziay02cEFsd3ZD
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.