Last updated: October 2021
The Villa Turrisi park has been the subject of a regeneration process request, implemented by some associations and citizens in order to protect the park. The goal of this citizen-based initiative is to regenerate the area with the expansion of the urban park, by adding several trees and plants. The main benefits of the project, apart from the cultural and social value of the new area, is the mitigation effect of the park in response to threats such as urban pollution, improvement of air quality, and biodiversity conservation (both plants and animal species). (Ref.1.)
Parco Villa Turrisi
Grazia Bommarito (https://www.facebook.com/parco.villaturrisi), retrieved 08/24/2018
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
Key challenges
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Environmental quality
- Air quality improvement
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Enabling opportunities for physical activity
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Improved governance of green or blue areas
Project objectives
The goal of the intervention is the realize an accessible and inclusive public park, in an area often characterized by the presence of abusive housing and infrastructures. The aim is to provide the park with new playgrounds and cycling paths, and additional trees and plants will be added. The whole process is the result of a citizen-based initiative, coordinated by non-profit associations (Ref.1&2)
The main benefits of the project, apart from the cultural and social value of the new area, is the mitigation effect of the park in response to threats such as urban pollution, improvement of air quality, and biodiversity conservation (both plants and animal species). (Ref.1.)
Implementation activities
The initiative started with a sit-in organized by the association "Parco villa Turrisi" and other partners, which requested to the municipality the intervention to transform the historical park of the villa to an urban park. The municipality approved their request, and the associations were in charge to take care of the public goods within the park (e.g. playground, benches, trees, plants etc.) (Ref.2&3)
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Promote environmentally-sound development in and around protected areas
- Protect species
- Undertake specific measures to protect species
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
Governance
Management set-up
- Led by non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Non-government organisation/civil society
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
Association "Parco Villa Turrisi" = initiators of the project. They implement the activities and organize the regeneration process through a participatory approach
Other non-profit associations (comitato di AddioPizzo, Libera Palermo, Salvare Palermo, il comitato Bonafede-Russia, Italia Nostra, Parco della Salute, e Fiab) = collaborate and help with organizing activities and funding
Citizens = supported the request to regenerate the park
Municipality = agreed on starting the intervention, by giving the associations the permission to intervene on a public space
(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
(The intervention was a result of a local strategy of collaboration between the municipality, the association "Parco Villa Turrisi" and other non-profit associations (comitato di AddioPizzo, Libera Palermo, Salvare Palermo, il comitato Bonafede-Russia, Italia Nostra, Parco della Salute, e Fiab) which collaborated and helped with organizing activities (Ref.1.))
Financing
Total cost
Unknown
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Funds provided by non-governmental organization (NGO)
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Membership or entrance fees
Non-financial contribution
Type of non-financial contribution
- Provision of land
- Provision of labour
- Provision of expertise
Who provided the non-financial contribution?
- Public authorities (e.g. land, utility services)
- Citizens (e.g. volunteering)
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Lowered local temperature
- Environmental quality
- Improved air quality
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
Type of reported impacts
Expected impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Yes
Presence of indicators used in reporting
Yes
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. PalermoMobilita (2017). PETIZIONE | Restituite ai cittadini il verde di Villa Turrisi. Available at Source link (Accessed 11-10-2020)
Ref.2. Sicilia informaioni (2017) Palermo, sit-in per dare vita al Parco Villa Turrisi. Available at Source link (Website not available in 2020)
Ref.3. Repubblica (2015). Villa Turrisi, c’è l’ok del Comune: nasce il parco pubblico. Available at Source link 11-10-2020)
Ref.4 Parco Villa Turrisi (2020), Il Parco, Available at Source link, (Accessed 11-10-2020)
Ref.2. Sicilia informaioni (2017) Palermo, sit-in per dare vita al Parco Villa Turrisi. Available at Source link (Website not available in 2020)
Ref.3. Repubblica (2015). Villa Turrisi, c’è l’ok del Comune: nasce il parco pubblico. Available at Source link 11-10-2020)
Ref.4 Parco Villa Turrisi (2020), Il Parco, Available at Source link, (Accessed 11-10-2020)
Parco Villa Turrisi
Grazia Bommarito (https://www.facebook.com/parco.villaturrisi), retrieved 08/24/2018