Last updated: October 2021
Monglong Park was rehabilitated in 2012 with the explicit aim of strengthening social ties. The site is a wooded area of 4 hectares to the south of the Bellefontaine district. Unknown until its redevelopment, it constitutes a true ecological niche for the city and has great biological richness and landscape. The associations of gardeners and the gardeners of the Bellefontaine neighborhood, including the Maghreb and Mong communities, were involved throughout the construction of the park (Ref. 2).
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Parks and urban forests
- Large urban parks or forests
- Green corridors and green belts
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Community gardens
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Key challenges
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Stormwater and rainfall management and storage
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Habitat and biodiversity conservation
- Green space creation and/or management
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Social interaction
- Health and well-being (SDG 3)
- Creation of opportunities for recreation
- Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
- Preservation of natural heritage
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable consumption
- Sustainable production
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
Project objectives
Monglong Park was rehabilitated in 2012 with the explicit aim of strengthening social ties (Ref. 4). The intervention ensured the park's provision of: a reception area of 550m2, a central wooded area that enhances biodiversity and the environment for discovery and education, family and shared gardens equipped with 71 individual plots of about 100m2 each and 3 collective plots of 1,400m2 with social, educational and cultural objectives, a natural water resource thanks to the rehabilitation of the three ancient water sources of the Roman aqueduct which allow the irrigation of crops, and a greenway that connects the road from Lestang to the path of the fox and the road to Seysses (Ref. 2).
Implementation activities
First phase of the project's implementation included redevelopment and reappropriation of the site. The second phase included upgrading and improving the site's equipment (Ref. 2).
Biodiversity conservation or restoration-focused activities
Biodiversity conservation:
- Protect and enhance urban habitats
- Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Food producers and cultivators (i.e. farmers, gardeners)
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Dissemination of information and education
- Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
The project was funded by both the European Regional Development Fund and the Town Hall of Toulouse. The associations of gardeners and the gardeners of the Bellefontaine neighborhood, including the Maghreb and Mong communities, were involved throughout the construction of the park (Ref. 2). The project is part of the Toulouse Integrated Urban Project, and consists of 19 actions, and more than 35 million euros. It is also noted that housing associations are major facilitators of the site (Ref. 1).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
Yes
(The projects linked to the PUI project are required to respond to European cohesion policy on the promotion of economic development, competitiveness, employment, sustainable development as well as urban and territorial cohesion, by taking into account the environmental protection issue, and the fight for equal opportunities and against discrimination (Ref. 3).)
... a national policy or strategy?
Unknown
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(The project is part of the Toulouse Integrated Urban Project and has been planned out by Toulouse City Council, Toulouse metropolis and local associations in order to contribute to economic development, sustainable development and equal opportunities (Ref. 1, 2).)
Financing
Total cost
€500,000 - €2,000,000
Source(s) of funding
- EU funds
- Public local authority 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
- Water management and blue areas
- Improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Reduced biodiversity loss
Economic impacts
- Stimulate development in deprived areas
- Increase in agricultural production (for profit or not)
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Improved social cohesion
- Increased opportunities for social interaction
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Increased access to healthy/affordable food
- Increased sustainability of agriculture practices
- Education
- Increased support for education and scientific research
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
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 evidence in public records
References
(1) L'Europe en Occitanie. [no date]. Le projet urbain intégré de la mairie de Toulouse. Available at: Source link (Website not available in 2020).
(2) L'Europe en Occitanie. [no date]. Créer du lien social. Available at: Source link (Website not available in 2020).
(3) Valerie Lapenne. (2011). Integrated urban projects (PUI) of the Greater Toulouse urban community. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 14, 2020).
(4) Unidivers (2019). "Mieux connaître la biodiversité pour assurer notre avenir Parc de Monlong Toulouse". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 14, 2020).
(2) L'Europe en Occitanie. [no date]. Créer du lien social. Available at: Source link (Website not available in 2020).
(3) Valerie Lapenne. (2011). Integrated urban projects (PUI) of the Greater Toulouse urban community. Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 14, 2020).
(4) Unidivers (2019). "Mieux connaître la biodiversité pour assurer notre avenir Parc de Monlong Toulouse". Available at: Source link (Accessed: October 14, 2020).