Last updated: October 2021
Bjerkedalen is a recently constructed park around the Hovin creek in Bjerke District. It is situated in the middle of a settlement block, which used to have few public spaces. The park now acts as a recreational area with lots of green space, a river and several facilities for outdoor activities. The construction of Bjerkedalen park incorporated the installment of several important blue-green structures and features such as planting native trees and plants along the river, providing open grassy areas as well as reopening the Hovin river from underground pipes, with the aim of improved water quality and flood prevention.(Ref. 2)
Source: Ref. 3, Camilla Jensen
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Blue infrastructure
- Riverbank/Lakeside greens
- Parks and urban forests
- Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces
- Lakes/ponds
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
The Bjerkedalen Park and reopening of the Hovin River were part of wider municipal plans and strategies which included the following goals:
- Adaptation to a changing climate
- Better water quality and a strengthened urban ecology
- Increased possibilities for an outdoor life and increased public health
(Ref. 1)
Implementation activities
- The river was reopened for improved water quality and flood prevention due to expected increase in rainfall as a consequence to climate change, and now flows open for 300 meters.
- Kelps and other aquatic plants create habitats for fish in the water bodies of the park and there is a bathing pond which acts as a popular attraction on hot summer days.
- The river banks are planted with native, water-loving species and there are plenty of trees planted on the slopes of the park. The park consists of 12 acres of flower beds, 6 acres of lawn as well as 50,000 perennials that altogether provide green surfaces and habitat for some species.
- A green canal with stepped edges is created near the café
- It has been made accessible to everyone in an exemplary way, with a low gradient on the hiking trails.
(Ref. 2,3)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Renaturalization of rivers and other water bodies
Main beneficiaries
- Local government/Municipality
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
Local Government:
Builder: Oslo municipality, Bydel Bjerke, Urban Ecology Agency, Oslo Water and Sewerage Agency (Ref. 3)
Private Sector:
Architect: Dronninga landskap AS, Filter Arkitekter AS (Ref. 3)
Project leader: COWI AS (Ref. 3)
Consultants: Sweco Norge AS, Holocinsult, Rossim (Ref. 3)
Citizens:
A number of meetings with residents and housing associations anchored the project (Ref. 3)
Informative meeting for the public where questions and other input from the public were allowed, after the park was established. A document of gathered questions and answers were produced by Oslo municipality (Ref. 7)
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The European Water Framework Directive (Ref. 4))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(Oslo Municipality's 'Urban Ecology Program' (Ref. 5))
Financing
Total cost
More than €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Increased protection against flooding
- Enhanced protection and restoration of freshwater ecosystems
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved access to urban green space
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Health and wellbeing
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
Type of reported impacts
Achieved impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
References
1. Oslo Kommune (2015). Principles for reopening of rivers and creeks in Oslo/Prinsipper for gjenåpning av elver og bekker i Oslo. Steering document. Version 1.0. [Document provided].
2. Stange, R. (2016). Bjerkedalen. 9A Biennal 2016. Arquitectes. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
3. Norske Arkitekters Landskapsforbund (n.d). Report Bjerkedalen park - A river park from Marka to the fjord/Rapport Bjerkedalen park - En elvepark fra marka til fjorden. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
4. Magnussen, K. Seifert-Dähnn, I and Reinvang, R. (2014). Benefit and cost of achieving environmental goals for urban waterways/Nytte og kostnader ved å oppnå miljømål for byvassdrag. Rapportnr. 2014/2015. Vista Analyse AS. [Document provided].
5. Miljødirektoratet (2016). The Hovin River - Opening of Rivers in Oslo. Hovinbekken - Bekkeåpning i Oslo. [Not available in 2020].
6. The City of Oslo (2017) Quiet Urban Areas. [Not available in 2020].
7. The City of Oslo (2016). Input and response to the consultation draft and information meeting/Innspill og svar til høringsutkast og informasjonsmøte. Vedlegg 5. The Urban Ecology Agency. Bymiljøetaten. [Document provided].
8. Garza, V. (2020).Oslo has not considered closing the parks. Norway Today. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
9. Venter, Z. et al. (2020). Urban nature in a time of crisis: recreational use of green space increases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oslo, Norway. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. DOI: 10.31235/Source link [Document provided].
10. European Green Capital. (n.d.). Application Form for the European Green Capital Award 2019. [Document provided].
2. Stange, R. (2016). Bjerkedalen. 9A Biennal 2016. Arquitectes. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
3. Norske Arkitekters Landskapsforbund (n.d). Report Bjerkedalen park - A river park from Marka to the fjord/Rapport Bjerkedalen park - En elvepark fra marka til fjorden. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
4. Magnussen, K. Seifert-Dähnn, I and Reinvang, R. (2014). Benefit and cost of achieving environmental goals for urban waterways/Nytte og kostnader ved å oppnå miljømål for byvassdrag. Rapportnr. 2014/2015. Vista Analyse AS. [Document provided].
5. Miljødirektoratet (2016). The Hovin River - Opening of Rivers in Oslo. Hovinbekken - Bekkeåpning i Oslo. [Not available in 2020].
6. The City of Oslo (2017) Quiet Urban Areas. [Not available in 2020].
7. The City of Oslo (2016). Input and response to the consultation draft and information meeting/Innspill og svar til høringsutkast og informasjonsmøte. Vedlegg 5. The Urban Ecology Agency. Bymiljøetaten. [Document provided].
8. Garza, V. (2020).Oslo has not considered closing the parks. Norway Today. Available at: Source link [Accessed: 30 October 2020].
9. Venter, Z. et al. (2020). Urban nature in a time of crisis: recreational use of green space increases during the COVID-19 outbreak in Oslo, Norway. Norwegian Institute for Nature Research. DOI: 10.31235/Source link [Document provided].
10. European Green Capital. (n.d.). Application Form for the European Green Capital Award 2019. [Document provided].
Source: Ref. 3, Camilla Jensen
Source: Ref. 3, Camilla Jensen
Source: Ref. 2
Source: Ref. 2
Source: Ref. 2