Last updated: October 2021
The first new park in Sofia since 30 years was created, which had very positive reviews from the citizens of the capital. The park features attractive grey infrastructure, grass lawns, and more than 600 planted trees. It has become a popular place for recreation. The aims of the project were to improve the public environment so that it is more suitable for rest; create conditions for sport and recreation in an urban park environment; and to thereby improve the economical state of the region by attracting investments and new employment opportunities. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 3). Extension of a 6.6 acre water park and additional 18.2 acre green area was also completed in 2020 (Ref 8 and 9).
https://www.sofia.bg/web/sofia-municipality/start/-/asset_publisher/HMYVGw6PDFKh/content/fandakova-we-expand-vazrazhdane-park-by-another-25-decares-we-will-build-an-aqua-park-and-a-mineral-water-pool?inheritRedirect=false
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Blue infrastructure
- Other
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
- Improving mental health
- Improving physical health
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
- Economic development: service sectors
- Employment/job creation
Focus
Creation of new green areas
Project objectives
- Restore a degraded urban area
- Improve the public environment so that it is more suitable for rest;
- Create conditions for sport and recreation in an urban park environment
- Improve the economical state of the region by attracting investments and new employment opportunities
- Help make Sofia a green city
(Ref. 1; Ref. 3; Ref. 4)
Implementation activities
- 29 399 sq.m. of green area have been created.
- 607 new trees, 1258 shrubs, and 649 flowers have been planted.
- Grass areas were created, including ones specially suited for children playing, picnic, and adding a circus
- A number of grey infrastructural and recreational elements were added, including an amphitheater, alleys, circus facilities, children's playgrounds, sports grounds, a fountain, irrigation system, and others
- Improve the economical state of the region by attracting investments and new employment opportunities
(Ref. 1, 3. , 4.)
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Young people and children
Governance
Management set-up
- Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Unknown
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The agency Sofiiski Imoti, which is funded by the Municipality of Sofia, provided funding for the project and designed the project plan. The construction was carried out by the municipal agency Sofproect and the firms Kalistratov Group Ltd., SK-13 Putstroy, and Peep Brothers Ltd.. The amphitheater was designed by the firm X2 Studio. The park was also co-funded by the EU through the fund JESSICA. (Ref. 1; Ref. 4).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project was financed through the European Union's JESSICA funding instrument. The instrument is governed by several legislative provisions, available on http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/en/funding/special-support-instruments/jessica/legislation/#1
(Ref. 1))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
(The park is mentioned briefly in the Master Plan of Sofia Municipality, in the context of the measures for development of sustainable tourism through adequate use of the natural and cultural assets of Sofia Municipality. One of the measures listed is utilizing the available mineral water resources in the design of park Vozrazhdane.
(Ref. 6))
Financing
Total cost
€2,000,000 - €4,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public local authority budget
Type of funding
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
- Loan
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
Economic impacts
- Increase of green jobs (e.g. paid employment positions)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Health and wellbeing
- Improved physical health
- Improved mental health
- Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
- Other
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
No
References
Ref. 1. Градът (2016). Парк "Възраждане". Новият парк на София. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020].
Ref. 2. Найденова, В. (2016). Парк "Възраждане" – новият парк на София. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Фонд за устойчиво градско развитие (2017). Парк „Възраждане”, гр. София, район „Възраждане”, м. „Зона Б-5-4”, кв. 1a, УПИ I и УПИ III“ – I етап на „Софийски имоти” ЕАД. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Софийски Имоти (2013). Проект „Парк Възраждане”. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 5. Google (2017). Park "Vazrazhdane". All reviews. [online] available at: Source link [Updated in 2020. [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 6. Sofproect (2014). ОБЩИНСКИ ПЛАН ЗА РАЗВИТИЕ НА СТОЛИЧНА ОБЩИНА ЗА ПЕРИОДА 2014 - 2020 г. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 7. "МИТ Прес" ООД (2016). София има нов парк - „Възраждане“. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 8. The Mayor (2020) Sofia’s outdoor water park "Vazrazhdane" opens its doors. Source:Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 9. Sofia municipality (2018). Fandakova: We expand "Vazrazhdane" Park by another 25 decare. Source: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 2. Найденова, В. (2016). Парк "Възраждане" – новият парк на София. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 3. Фонд за устойчиво градско развитие (2017). Парк „Възраждане”, гр. София, район „Възраждане”, м. „Зона Б-5-4”, кв. 1a, УПИ I и УПИ III“ – I етап на „Софийски имоти” ЕАД. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 4. Софийски Имоти (2013). Проект „Парк Възраждане”. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 5. Google (2017). Park "Vazrazhdane". All reviews. [online] available at: Source link [Updated in 2020. [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 6. Sofproect (2014). ОБЩИНСКИ ПЛАН ЗА РАЗВИТИЕ НА СТОЛИЧНА ОБЩИНА ЗА ПЕРИОДА 2014 - 2020 г. [Website not available in 2020]
Ref. 7. "МИТ Прес" ООД (2016). София има нов парк - „Възраждане“. [online] available at: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 8. The Mayor (2020) Sofia’s outdoor water park "Vazrazhdane" opens its doors. Source:Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
Ref. 9. Sofia municipality (2018). Fandakova: We expand "Vazrazhdane" Park by another 25 decare. Source: Source link [Accessed on 3 September 2020]
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