Plovdiv, Bulgaria
City population: 337900
Duration: unknown – 2011
Implementation status: Completed
Scale: Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings)
Project area: 101171 m2
Type of area: Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: October 2021

The park was completely renovated by planting trees, shrubs, flowers, and by renovating existing grey elements and adding new ones. The project was implemented as part of the programme for Improvement of the Ecological and Recreational environment of Plovdiv, which was funded by the ERDF through the national Operational Programme “Regional Development” 2007-2013 (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 3; Ref. 6).

A path in a park surrounded by trees
https://foursquare.com/v/%D0%BF%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BA-%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B9%D1%87%D0%BE-%D0%BA%D0%B8%D1%80%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%B2/4fdf4eb9e4b04e7e2a6b8b62?openPhotoId=51a5e9eb498ec54038fda015

Overview

Nature-based solution

  • Parks and urban forests
  • Large urban parks or forests

Key challenges

  • Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
  • Green space creation and/or management
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Project objectives

- Improve the ecological and recreational environment of Plovdiv (Ref. 1).

Implementation activities

- 100 new trees, many shrubs, rye grass, and a 200 m2 area of flowers were planted - 91 benches, alleys, a stage, lighting, and other grey infrastructure was added; 2 children's playgrounds were renovated and 1 new was added (Ref. 1; Ref. 2).

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Dissemination of information and education

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

The intervention was initiated by Plovdiv Municipality as part of the project for Improvement of the Ecological and Recreational Environment in Plovdiv. This project was financed by the ERDF through the national Operational Program "Regional Development" 2007 - 2013. The project was implemented by the construction firm Запрянови-03. (Ref. 1; Ref. 3; Ref 6; Ref. 7; Ref. 8).

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? Yes (Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the European Regional Development Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1783/1999 (Ref. 9).)
... a national policy or strategy? Yes (The national strategy Operational Program "Regional Development" 2007 - 2013 enabled the creation and funding of Plovdiv Municipality's project for Improvement of the Ecological and Recreational Environment in Plovdiv. Park Raycho Kirkov was reconstructed as part of this city-level project (Ref. 1; Ref. 3).)
... a local policy or strategy? Yes (The intervention was initiated by Plovdiv Municipality as part of the project for Improvement of the Ecological and Recreational Environment in Plovdiv (Ref. 1).)

Financing

Total cost

€100,000 - €500,000

Source(s) of funding

  • EU funds
  • Public national 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

  • Green space and habitat
  • Increased green space area

Economic impacts

  • Unknown

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Safety
  • Increased perception of safety
  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • 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

No evidence in public records

Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports

No evidence in public records

Availability of a web-based monitoring tool

Yes

References

Ref. 1. Source link (2011). Парк "Райчо Кирков" в "Южен" ще се превърне в едно от бижутата на квартала. [online] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).
Ref. 2. Source link (2011). Откриха обновения парк “Райчо Кирков” в Пловдив. [online] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).
Ref. 3. Йеремиева, В. (2011). Лъснаха парк в “Кючук Париж” за 800 000. [online] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).
Ref. 4. Source link (2011). Откриват парк "Райчо Кирков" на 7 септември. [online] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).
Ref. 5. Foursquare (2017). Park "Raycho Kirkov". [online] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).
Ref. 6. Operational Programme “Regional Development” (2011). OP Regional Development Priorities. [online] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).
Ref. 7. Запрянови-03 (2017). За нас. [online] available at: Source link (accessed 19 July 2017).
Ref. 8. Operational Programme “Regional Development” (2009). ОБЯВЛЕНИЕ ЗА ВЪЗЛАГАНЕ НА ДОГОВОРИ ЗА ПРЕДОСТАВЯНЕ НА БЕЗВЪЗМЕЗДНА ФИНАНСОВА ПОМОЩ
ПО ОПЕРАТИВНА ПРОГРАМА „РЕГИОНАЛНО РАЗВИТИЕ” 2007-2013. [pdf] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).
Ref. 9. EUR-Lex (2006). Regulation (EC) No 1080/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on the European Regional Development Fund and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1783/1999. [online] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).
Ref. 10. Government of Bulgaria (2017). UNIFIED MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE EU STRUCTURAL INSTRUMENTS IN BULGARIA. [online] available at: Source link (Accessed: November 2, 2020).