Tbilisi, Tbilisi (FUA), Georgia
City population: 1485293
Duration: unknown – unknown
Implementation status: Ongoing
Scale: Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Project area: 42.591 m2
Type of area: Residential, Public Greenspace Area
Last updated: May 2025

The Vera Park is a significant site in the city of Tbilisi, created in the mid-20th century. Located centrally, it is not only frequently visited by tourists but also used as a recreational area for the surrounding residents and workers (Ref. 1,2). The park is recognized as an immovable cultural heritage site, emphasizing its historical significance (Ref. 1). However, its condition had become quite desolate, necessitating extensive rehabilitation while preserving its original features (Ref. 2). Importantly, the project is carried out between the city of Tbilisi and the Asian Development Bank under the Livable Cities Investment Program (LCIP) to improve urban and tourism infrastructure (Ref. 1,2). As such, the project was developed through co-participatory planning, engaging citizens who have shown significant interest in the site’s development and will further serve as a precedent case for co-participatory planning in the future (Ref. 4,2).

Remodelling of the Entrance
Remodelling of the Entrance
https://bm.ge/news/veris-parkis-reabilitatsiaze-293-milioni-lari-daikharjeba-rogori-iqneba-ganakhlebuli-parki by Atelier Architects

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
  • Water management (SDG 6)
  • Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
  • Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
  • Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure
  • Health and well-being (SDG 3)
  • Creation of opportunities for recreation
  • Enabling opportunities for physical activity
  • Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
  • Inclusive governance
  • Economic development and employment (SDG 8)
  • Tourism support

Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)

  • Health, Well-being and Social cohesion
  • Inadequate access to recreational opportunities
  • Other

Key priorities

Social Justice and community

Focus

Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Improved governance of green or blue areas, Establishment of inclusive governance mechanisms involving local communities

Project objectives

- Rehabilitate Vera Park while preserving its original features, while maintaning the park's status as an immovable cultural heritage site (Ref. 1). - Enhance the quality of the park while maintaining its original appearance (Ref 1, 2) - Enhance the park's function as a recreational area for residents, workers, and tourists (Ref. 1, 2) - Improve the amenities and services that the park offers, including for people with disabilities (Ref. 1) - Promoting citizen integration and engagement so that the project can be used as a benchmark for co-development in the future. (Ref. 2) - Improve water management and drainage in case of rain and storm events (Ref. 1)

Implementation activities

1. Area Development (Ref. 1) 1.1. Enhanced landscaping of the park and provision of additional plantation/ greenery (Ref. 1) 1.2. Rehabilitation of fences and gates (on the park perimeter) (Ref. 1) 1.3 Arrangement of public spaces and installation of associated equipment (playground, attraction, pergolas, benches, etc.) (Ref. 1) 1.4. Augmentation of thematic interpretation of natural ecosystems and it’s presentation (Ref. 1) 2. Traffic and Transportation (Ref. 1) 2.1. Parking off-site (including underground parking) (Ref. 1) 2.2.Walkways (Ref. 1) 3. Amenities (Ref. 1) 3.1. Arrangements for basic utilities: water management and drainage (Ref. 1) 3.2. Comfort Station (including for persons with disabilities) (Ref. 1) 4. Preparation: Draft Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan (LARP) based on a stakeholder meeting in February 2022. Given the epidemiological situation in the country and the high public interest, the stakeholder meeting was broadcast LIVE on the Facebook page (Ref. 4)

Main beneficiaries

  • Citizens or community groups
  • Young people and children
  • Marginalized groups: Children, young people or youth groups , People with functional diversities
  • Other

Governance

Management set-up

  • Co-governance with government and non-government actors

Type of initiating organisation

  • Local government/municipality
  • Financial institution

Participatory approaches/ community involvement

  • Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
  • Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)

Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project

"[...] t in close cooperation with the Asian Development Bank, we [the city hall of Tbilisi and ADB] have made a decision to rehabilitate Vera Park. [...] promoting citizen integration and engagement." (Ref. 2)

Project implemented in response to ...

... an EU policy or strategy? No
... a national policy or strategy? Yes ("The government has proposed to process the Livable Cities Investment Program (LCIP) to improve urban and tourism infrastructure and services across Georgia." Ref. 1)
... a local policy or strategy? Unknown

Type of enablers

Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)

Financing

Total cost

More than €4,000,000

Source(s) of funding

  • Multilateral funds/international funding
  • Other funding sources are unclear

Type of funding

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

Non-financial contribution

Unknown

Impacts and Monitoring

Environmental impacts

  • Water management and blue areas
  • Improved stormwater management
  • Expected improved stormwater management
  • Green space and habitat
  • Reduced biodiversity loss
  • Expected reduced biodiversity loss

Economic impacts

  • More sustainable tourism
  • Expected more sustainable tourism

Socio-cultural impacts

  • Social justice and cohesion
  • Improved access to urban green space
  • Expected improved access to urban green space
  • Increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Expected increased opportunities for social interaction
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Expected gain in activities for recreation and exercise
  • Cultural heritage and sense of place
  • Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure
  • Expected protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure

Type of reported 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

Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs

Economic impacts, Temporary or permanent closure of local markets or businesses, Other

References

1.
Tbilisi Development Fund (2024). Social Monitoring Report | Semi-Annual Report July to December 2023. Asian Development Bank, p. 10-12 Accessed on August 24, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Skhirtladze, K. (2021). Tbilisi Mayor: Rehabilitation of Vera Park Begins. Georgoa Today, Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Tkeshelashvili, S. (2024). ვერის პარკის რეაბილიტაციაზე 29.3 მილიონი ლარი დაიხარჯება - როგორი იქნება განახლებული პარკი. Business Media, Accessed on August 24, 2024, [Source link];
4.
The Tbilisi Development Fund (2022). Social Monitoring Report | Semi-Annual Report January 2022 to June 2022. Asian Developement Bank, p. 10-12 Accessed on August 25, 2024, [Source link];
Current State of the Vera Park
Current State of the Vera Park
https://bm.ge/news/veris-parkis-reabilitatsiaze-293-milioni-lari-daikharjeba-rogori-iqneba-ganakhlebuli-parki
naturescapes bannerInformation about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.