Last updated: October 2024
The 28th of October Street (28ης Οκτωβρίου) was one of the most neglected streets on the eastern side of Thessaloniki, completely devoid of trees despite its central importance. Additionally, the street suffered from severe flooding during heavy rainfall. In 2011, the Municipality of Thessaloniki, in collaboration with Konstantinos Zervas, the Deputy Mayor for the Environment, Quality of Life, and Free Space, proposed a redevelopment project aimed at transforming the street through the planting of trees and the installation of flower beds that would function as rain gardens (Refs 3, 5). This initiative was part of the "Integrated Green Cities" action, which falls under the European territorial cooperation program Greece-Bulgaria 2007-2013 (Refs 1, 2, 3, 6). To achieve the dual goals of sustainable rainwater management and urban beautification, decorative trees were planted in specially constructed bioretention tree stands. These stands, along with the flower beds, were designed to collect rainwater, which would then be used to irrigate the trees along the road and the plants forming the rain gardens. Rainwater was gathered from the road surface, pavements, and the gutters of apartment buildings through these bioretention systems (Refs 1, 2). This sustainable water management solution significantly reduced rainwater runoff, improved water quality, and enhanced the area’s aesthetic appeal (Refs 2, 6, 7).
The October 28th street after the intervention
Mavratzoti Ekaterini (https://ejournals.lib.auth.gr/hydrotechnica/article/view/7653)
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Green areas for water management
- Rain gardens
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Regeneration, land-use and urban development
- Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Improvements to water quality
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Social justice and equity
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Urban flooding (stormwater)
- Drought
- Land use and Socio-economic change
- Economic losses due to disasters and environmental degradation
- Rapid urbanization
- Unequal availability and access to public green spaces
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation), Social Justice and community
Focus
Creation of new green areas, Creation of any other green urban spaces, Creation of semi-natural blue areas, Implementation of green areas for water management (e.g. rain gardens)
Project objectives
1) To capture rainwater by creating bio retention stands and flower beds that act as rain gardens (Ref 1);
2) To ensure that rainwater is freed from its polluting elements, resulting in clean water entering the city's central sewer pipes and address the high temperatures in the city (ibid.);
3) The aesthetic and functional regeneration of the road axis with tree plantings, creation of flower beds, sidewalk extensions, new urban equipment, and other interventions that will upgrade the area (ibid.);
4) The double goal of sustainable management of rainwater and at the same time to expand our effort to improve the quality of the urban environment and include marginalized groups by setting up disability ramps and route lines for people with visual impairments, benefiting these groups by adding specific facilities to satisfy their demands (Ref 8). (Ref 3, 5).
Implementation activities
The redevelopment of the area involved several key activities to improve both environmental sustainability and urban functionality. Seven watertight bioretention beds were installed next to or near the construction line to manage rainwater (Ref 1). Rainwater from the road surface, pavements, and apartment building gutters was collected naturally through special flower beds, and then directed to a small ditch, ultimately leading to a sewer (ibid.). 54 Ornamental trees were planted in specially constructed tree stands, designed to collect rainwater for irrigation (Ref 2). A special soil mixture in these tree stands helped purify the water by retaining pollutants, ensuring that clean water reached the city's central sewer system (ibid.).
Additionally, eight seating areas and 18 garbage cans were placed along the road in designated spots to improve public convenience (Ref 2). Sidewalks, previously narrow or non-existent, were widened to facilitate pedestrian movement (ibid.). Vehicle traffic was also reorganized to ensure smoother flow along the road (ibid.). Accessibility improvements included the installation of ramps for people with disabilities and route lines for visually impaired individuals (Ref 8).
The municipality, as part of the project, developed a Guide to Integrated Stormwater Management, outlining ecological rainwater methods and identifying around 40 potential rain garden sites in Thessaloniki. (Ref. 8)
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Increase urban vegetation cover to reduce urban heat island effect
- Implement sustainable urban drainage schemes to manage stormwater
Main beneficiaries
- National-level government
- Local government/Municipality
- Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)
- Non-government organisation/Civil Society
- Private sector/Corporate/Company
- Marginalized groups: People with functional diversities
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- National government
- Local government/municipality
- EU body
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
- Co-management/Joint management
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was proposed by the Municipality of Thessaloniki, along with Konstantinos Zervas, the Deputy Mayor for the Environment, Quality of Life, and Free Space. It was developed in collaboration with the Haskovo Municipality of Bulgaria and in partnership with various public sector institutions, including the Technical Chamber of Greece (Section of Central Macedonia) and the Thessaloniki Water Supply and Sewage Company (EYATH) and NGOs, the Trans Balkan Institute of Education (Refs 3, 5, 6).
It was implemented within the framework of the "Integrated Green Cities" action, part of the European territorial cooperation program Greece-Bulgaria 2007-2013 (Refs 1, 2, 3, 6). The program is co-financed by 85% from the European Regional Development Fund and 15% from national resources of Greece and Bulgaria, involving both EU bodies and national governments (Refs 1, 2, 5). Following a public tender process, a contract was signed with a private company to carry out the project (Ref 2).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project is part of the Greece-Bulgaria 2007-2013 Territorial Cooperation Programme that falls within the framework of the EU's Cohesion Policy, which aims to reduce disparities between different regions and promote balanced development. This includes the sustainable management of natural resources, infrastructure improvement, and enhancing the quality of life in urban environments (1,2))
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Unknown
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships), City network or regional partnerships focused on climate change, sustainability, GI or NBS in the city, Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public national budget
- EU funds
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
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved water quality
- Achieved improved water quality
- Improved stormwater management
- Achieved improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased number of species present
- Achieved increased number of species present
Economic impacts
- Reduce financial cost for urban management
- Achieved reduce financial cost for urban management
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Achieved increased visibility and opportunity for marginalised groups or indigenous peoples
- Cultural heritage and sense of place
- Increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Achieved increased appreciation for natural spaces
- Education
- Increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
- Achieved increased awareness of NBS and their benefits
Type of reported 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 evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Voria.gr (2015). Έτοιμοι μέχρι το καλοκαίρι οι «Κήποι της βροχής» στην 28ης Οκτωβρίου. Voria.gr, Accessed on September 10, 2024, [Source link];
2.
Radio1D (2014). Οδός 28ης Οκτωβρίου: Έρχονται οι «Κήποι της βροχής». Radio1D, Accessed on September 10, 2024, [Source link];
3.
Zouka, V. (2012). ΤΕΧΝΙΚΗ ΕΝΗΜΕΡΩΣΗ. makthes.gr, Accessed on September 10, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Fabian, Z. (2023). Cost-benefit analysis of rain gardens and their grey alternative in Thessaloniki, Greece. ISCTE – University Institute of Lisbon, Accessed on September 10, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Kakis, V. (2011). Κήποι Βροχής στην Θεσσαλονίκη. TVXS.gr, Accessed on September 10, 2024, [Source link];
6.
TEE/TKM (2012). ΚΗΠΟΙ ΒΡΟΧΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΑΣΙΝΟ ΔΩΜΑ ΣΤΗ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗ. TEE/TKM, Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Mavratzoti, K.; Theodosiou, N.; Basdeki, K. (2020). ΜΕΛΕΤΗ ΕΦΑΡΜΟΓΗΣ ΚΗΠΩΝ ΒΡΟΧΗΣ ΣΤΗΝ ΠΕΡΙΟΧΗ ΤΟΥΜΠΑ ΘΕΣΣΑΛΟΝΙΚΗΣ. ΥΔΡΟΤΕΧΝΙΚΑ (HYDROTECHNICS), Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link];
8.
Voria.gr (2014). Πρασινίζει η οδός 28ης Οκτωβρίου στην ανατολική Θεσσαλονίκη (φωτο). Voria.gr, Accessed on September 10, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) (2021). Δημογραφικά χαρακτηριστικά / 2021. Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), Accessed on September 14, 2024, [Source link];
10.
Salary Expert (n.d.). Average Salary in Thessaloniki, Greece. Salary Expert, Accessed on September 14, 2024, [Source link];
11.
Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT) (2021). Χαρακτηριστικά κατοικιών - νοικοκυριών / 2021. Hellenic Statistical Authority (ELSTAT), Accessed on September 14, 2024, [Source link];
Preview of the October 28th street after the intervention
Voria.gr (https://www.voria.gr/article/prasinizei-i-odos-28is-oktobriou-stin-anatoliki-thessaloniki-foto)
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.