marseille, Marseille (FUA), France
City population: 1850000
Duration: 2017 – 2023
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 140000 m2
Type of area: Industrial
Last updated: October 2021

EPAEM (Euromediterranean public development establishment) launched the development a new park of 14 hectares. Located in former industrial area at the gates of the northern districts of Marseille, it is considered to be one of the poorest districts in France (Ref. 1). The planned park Aygalades is divided into two parts: the southern part of 4 hectares called Bougainville Park and the northern part of 10 hectares which runs along the Aygalades river (Ref. 1). Development work on Bougainville Park is set to begin in September 2020 with completion in 2023 (Ref. 12). The park is described as "the first step of a large project to restore a highly degraded industrial site" (Ref. 12).

Plans of Bougainville Park, Marseille
Planned amenitites in Bugainville Park, Marseille (MOA Architecture)
https://www.moa-architecture.com/projets/urbanisme/parc-bougainville-marseille/

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Grey infrastructure featuring greens
  • Blue infrastructure
  • Riverbank/Lakeside greens
  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests
  • Green corridors and green belts
  • Community gardens and allotments
  • Community gardens
  • Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
  • Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes
  • Green areas for water management
  • Swales and filter strips
  • Other

Key challenges

  • Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
  • Climate change adaptation
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Flood protection
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Environmental quality
  • Soil quality improvement
  • Waste management
  • Regeneration, land-use and urban development
  • Conversion of former industrial areas
  • Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
  • Inclusive governance
  • Effective management
  • Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
  • Social interaction
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Improving physical health
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Creation of new green areas, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Transformation of previously derelict areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas

Project objectives

-"A vast area of nature, walks along the water, fun activities and sports, this park must become the vegetation link between Euroméditerranée II and the adjacent districts (Le Canet, Crottes ...), while playing the the role of a retention basin in the case of torrential rains." (Ref. 2) -"Transform a wasteland into a new place of relaxation and walk." (Ref. 1) -"More nature in the city" (Ref. 3) -"Continue the linear park to the sea", "Open the city on the park and the landscape","Propose a new blue and green framework" -"Fight against the urban heat"(Ref.4) -"As both a public space and a structuring facility, the Bougainville park aims to become a place of sharing, encounters and social ties." (Ref. 6,page 247) -Water will be used for enjoyment, watering, water play, freshness and the installation of natural wetlands. --Sustainability approach is one of the objective through implementation of "rainwater management, reduction of maintenance, involvement of inhabitants..." (Ref. 5)

Implementation activities

-"The project proposes to revive the stream Aygalades"..."In the continuity of the François Billoux park, the new Aygalades park starts at the boulevard du Capitaine Gèze and extends to the sea by the creation of a very tree-lined course" (Ref. 2) -"Terraces structure the slope and overlap with free and programmed spaces: community gardens, a rural lawn, gardens, petanques and games for children ... a network of ramps connect the different levels. The terraces are overlooking the park and offer views." -"A vegetation cover formed by large trees filters heat and light" -"A natural filtration basin sized to cover the watering needs of the park is set up on this site" -"The swales and the banks welcome a mediterranean riparian environment." (Ref. 6, page 51) -“It will be the natural receptacle of rainwater from the north of Marseille, in fact the Aygalades stream, which is currently buried, will be updated and the park will welcome the stream throughout the year. The flood risk control strategy turns the park into a technical structure which makes it possible to increase the insufficient capacity of existing structures for the flow of floods and to remedy the flooding of downstream neighborhoods” (Ref. 5). -“It will host sports facilities, picnic areas, cycle paths and children's games. Its surroundings around Boulevard de Briançon and Avenue Roger Salengro will also be redeveloped above ground and underground, particularly on Rue d'Anthoine. This is currently benefiting from recalibration work for the flow of the Aygalades stream” (Ref. 5). -“Further north, the Bougainville esplanade will host a skatepark and will revolve around the metro footbridge” (Ref. 15). -“Finally, further east, areas for practicing sports such as fitness or basketball courts will be developed” (Ref. 15). -“Euroméditerranée also specifies that a plot has been reserved for the construction of a gymnasium on the land provisionally set up as a nursery in the park. The school could open for the start of the 2023 school year” (Ref. 15). -"A large green garden of 4 hectares, with play areas, a skatepark and a shade house” (Ref. 14).

Climate-focused activities

Climate change adaptation:

  • Increase or improve urban vegetation cover to help reduce outdoor temperature
  • Implement sustainable urban drainage infrastructure (e.g. to make space for water)
  • Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies

Main beneficiaries

  • Local government/Municipality
  • Citizens or community groups
  • Marginalized groups: Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)

Governance

Management set-up

  • Government-led

Type of initiating organisation

  • National government
  • Regional government
  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The City of Marseille is in charge of the maintenance and management and Euroméditerranée Urban Development Agency (EPAEM) is responsible for the work (Ref. 7, page 35). EPAEM was launched in 1995 by the combined efforts of the French Government, the City of Marseille, the Local and Regional Authorities and Marseille Provence Métropole Urban Community. EPAEM is also supported by the European Union. -The planning and development works resulted in employment for contractors such as MOA architecture (Ref. 14).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (Unknown/yes: Urban Development Agency (EPAEM) is responsible for the work (Ref. 7, page 35) and EPAEM is also supported by the European Union (Ref. 17). )
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (Eco-Cité Label by the French Ministry of Ecology (Ref. 8, page 3))
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Public national budget
  • Public regional budget
  • Public local authority budget

Type of funding

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

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Environmental quality
  • Improved soil quality
  • Water management and blue areas
  • Increased protection against flooding
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Enhanced protection and restoration of coastal and marine ecosystems
  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area
  • Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
  • Restoration of derelict areas

Economic impacts

  • Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces

Type of reported impacts

Achieved 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

References

1. Julia (2017). "Bougainville – Un futur parc immense aux portes des quartiers Nord". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
2. Euroméditerranéen (n.d). "Presentation du projet classe N°1". (Website not available in 2020).
3. Architecte Urbanisme (2012). "Découvrez le projet Euroméditerranée 2". (Website not available in 2020). Facebook page of organization available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
4. Ville de Marseille (n.d). "Euroméditerranéan II - PLU de Marseille - Orientation d'Aménagement". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
5. Tourisme Marseille (n.d). "Parc des Aygalades (2021)". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
6. Egis (2015). "Euroméditerranéan - ZAC Littoral - Étude d'impact". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
7. Euroméditerranée (n.d). "CARACTERISTIQUES PRINCIPALES DES OUVRAGES LES PLUS IMPORTANTS". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
8. Ministère de l'Écologie (2016). "L’innovation urbaine pour la transition écologique des territoires : Les lauréats de l’appel à projets « Ville de demain ». Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
9. EcoCité (2011). "Charte Développement Durables". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
10. SRCE PACA (2016). “Trames vertes et bleues dans le PLU de Marseille”. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
11. Ville de Marseille (2012). “Plan Climat Énergie Territorial Ville de Marseille”. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
12. Euroméditerranée (n.d). "Parc Bougainville". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
13. Julia (2019). "À Euroméditerranée, le projet du parc Bougainville se dévoile en images". Made in Marseille. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
14. MOA Architecture (n.d.). "Parc Bougainville, Marseille". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
15. Michel, Richard (2019). "Le Parc Bougainville, bientôt un peu de nature au pied des tours". Gomet. Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
16. Euroméditerranée (2018). "Marseille Parc Bougainville: Presentation de l'avant-projet". Available at: Source link (Accessed: July 30, 2020).
17. Euroméditerranée (2020) "Partners". Available at: Source link (Accessed: August 27, 2020).

Parc des Aygalades
Parc des Aygalades
Parc des Aygalades