Public local authority budget

The Parco della Musica in Cagliari, inaugurated in 2011 by the municipality of Cagliari, blends modern urban design with a focus on green spaces, music, and culture. Spanning approximately five hectares, the park features a small, winding artificial river that flows from north to south, creating a micro-habitat for various bird species. This waterway, lined with benches on the western side and open green spaces on the eastern side, offers a peaceful setting for both wildlife and visitors. The use of native plants, trees, and shrubs further enhances the biodiversity.

In terms of construction, the use of sustainable materials like marble paving and wooden platforms reflects a commitment to modern design. This makes the Parco della Musica an ideal venue for hosting events and fostering social interaction where culture can thrive, and people can relax and enjoy fresh, calm spaces. Overall, the Parco della Musica serves as an example of how modern urban spaces can be designed to promote ecological balance while offering cultural and recreational benefits to the community (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

Corkagh Park, spanning 120 hectares, holds significant historical and cultural value for the local community of Clondalkin. The park offers an extensive range of facilities, including football pitches, a newly redeveloped playground, baseball pitches, cricket amenities, and a purpose-built road cycling track. Over the past two years, Corkagh Park has experienced a notable increase in footfall and usage as visitors are drawn to its expansive open spaces. With its rich vegetation, open wetlands, and rolling hills, Corkagh Park provides a unique environment that caters to both wildlife and human visitors. Since its establishment as a public park in 1986, the park’s vast open spaces have served the local community and attracted visitors from the broader region. Currently, Corkagh Park is surrounded by the Village of Clondalkin and nearby residential developments.
Currently the park goes through a redevelopment process that involves redesign of several areas including introduction of native vegetation. The enhancement of the park is led by the South Dublin County Council and will feature a central hub area at the heart of the park. This hub will feature a coffee shop, an event space, additional seating, and new play areas. Enhancements to the Fairy Woodland Trail will include additional play elements and seating, as well as a new pedestrian pathway linking the lakes, while maintaining and safeguarding the existing mature trees. The project also includes the felling of ash trees affected by Ash Dieback, with these trees being replaced by native specimens to sustain the park’s ecological integrity. Native edge planting buffers will be established to reduce noise from the N7 and promote local biodiversity. Additionally, the project will address the existing car parks by implementing necessary improvements to better accommodate the park’s visitors. (4, 6)

The "Parco degli Anelli" is a new green space project in Cagliari, located along the waterfront in the Sant'Elia district. Designed by Portuguese landscape architect João Ferreira Nunes and inaugurated in 2019, the park spans approximately 15 hectares, with over 4 hectares currently accessible to the public. The remaining area will undergo renovation in the next two phases of the project. The park is notable for its open design, free of walls and fences, and its direct access to the sea, making it a unique addition to the city's green spaces (Refs. 1, 2 & 7).
This park exemplifies urban renewal by transforming a previously neglected and degraded area into a green, accessible to all public space. It is part of a broader context of redevelopment of peripheral neighborhoods, in this case the Sant'Elia district.(Refs. 6 & 9).
Parco degli Anelli features flat terrain with numerous pedestrian and cycling paths for individual sports activities, along with expansive grassy areas covering about 27,000 square meters. The park is surrounded by approximately 500 newly planted trees and shrubs typical of Mediterranean maquis, including Aleppo pine, dwarf palm, European olive, and jacaranda.
Future plans for the park include expanding into additional areas and connecting it to the rest of the city via a pedestrian and cycling bridge over the Palma Canal, as well as connecting it to the new waterfront promenade that is being built from Via Roma to Marina Piccola (Refs. 1, 2 & 7).

The Görömböly European Bee-eater Habitat Protection Project, launched in 2002 in Miskolc-Görömböly, Hungary, is a key conservation initiative dedicated to protecting 26.5 hectares of critical habitat for the highly protected European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) and the Sand Martin, along with the diverse ecosystems thriving in this area.
The site comprises three unique zones: an abandoned sand quarry, a young acacia woodland, and a quarry lake surrounded by marshlands. The sand quarry’s vertical walls provide nesting sites for 15-40 European Bee-eaters and Sand Martins each year, supporting Red-listed species vital to Hungary’s biodiversity. The acacia woodland serves as a feeding ground, while the quarry lake nurtures a rich aquatic ecosystem, hosting protected species like the European Bitterling fish, amphibians such as Green Toads, and a variety of waterfowl, including Mallards, Little Grebes, and occasionally Kingfishers.
This project not only safeguards these vulnerable species but also fosters community engagement, offering residents the chance to learn about local wildlife and ecosystems. Additionally, the initiative promotes scientific study of the area’s ecological development, contributing valuable insights into species behavior and habitat evolution. With an emphasis on nature education and recreation, the project raises public awareness of environmental conservation.
The Municipality of Miskolc plays a crucial role, having designated the area as a protected site and managing its regulatory enforcement and maintenance.
(Ref.1,2,3)

The Horpaz-Ezareni Park is an initiative driven by civil society, requesting the municipality of Miroslava to construct a natural park adjacent to Lake Ezareni. The aim is to protect its green spaces and aquatic bird species while addressing waste management in the area. The petition also called for more green spaces in line with European standards and sought to tackle the challenges of rapid urbanization in peri-urban areas. It collected hundreds of signatures and targeted an area of 20 hectares.
In response, the municipality agreed to the petition and initially proposed creating a park covering 4 hectares in 2022. This first plan was released to the public for consultation. However, the project has since evolved to encompass the original 20 hectares, plus an additional 2 hectares, with an estimated project cost of 11,000,000 euros and a timeline of 3 years for implementation.
The park's design includes various facilities and amenities aimed at enhancing opportunities for recreation, exercise, and relaxation. Accessible paths for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as a parking lot, are also part of the plan. Additionally, two buildings are proposed for sanitary and administrative purposes, which would manage the projected installations of a lighting system, Wi-Fi, and surveillance cameras.
Environmentally, the project includes plans for managing the lake's banks to remove hydrophilic vegetation that could create an unhealthy environment, along with the construction of two bridges. The wilderness areas will be managed, and dendrological plants will be introduced to improve the ecosystem's quality. Overall, the project aims to increase and regenerate green spaces in the commune, enhancing the quality of life for residents and improving the area's aesthetic appeal. (1-8)

Since the 1980s, the Graefekiez neighborhood in Berlin's Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district has been a traffic-calmed area where all road users are treated equally, driving is limited to walking speed, and cars are permitted to stop anywhere. However, this once-progressive concept no longer functions effectively due to the significant increase in cars and delivery vehicles over the years. The streets no longer resemble a traffic-calmed zone, with traditional layouts featuring roadways, sidewalks, and parking spaces. As a result, many users fail to recognize the traffic-calmed nature of the area, leading to safety issues: vehicles drive too fast, delivery traffic causes conflicts, and streets are difficult to navigate safely.
Berlin’s transport sector faces the challenge of meeting legally mandated CO₂ reduction targets. Achieving these goals requires bold measures, including limiting private motorized transport (MIV), especially in densely populated areas where residents and visitors have access to alternative modes of transportation.
The "Graefekiez" project addresses these challenges through urban redevelopment aimed at improving livability and promoting sustainable urban mobility. Car parking has been banned from the streets, freeing up space for communal use such as lounge areas. As part of the "Graefekiez" project, the district office is converting parking spaces into green spaces and expanding tree disks to adapt to the climate and promote a sponge city.
The project was developed collaboratively with residents and NGOs through a participatory process led by the Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg district office, in partnership with the Berlin Social Science Center and Paper Planes e.V. Implementation began in 2023 on Graefestraße and Bockhstraße.After a six-month trial period, the district office decided in 2024 to make the measures permanent.
This initiative advances a safer, greener, inclusive urban environment while meeting climate and community goals. (Ref. 1, 2, 3)

The park called Järnvågsparken will be constructed in the developing neighbourhood of Masthuggskajen as the main green space of the area, measuring about 8000 m2. The park will offer recreational activities for people living and working in the area, with spaces designated for rest, meetings, picnics, walking and play. For example, there will be a large playground, many different places to sit, grass lawns and a space to host cultural events in [Ref. 1-4]. The park will also be designed to manage stormwater and reduce flood risk [Ref. 5, 6]. The park will be built over an existing highway, turning it into a tunnel while reconnecting the new neighbourhood. The remaining future park area next to the road are currently parking spaces [Ref. 1, 4, 5]. The adjacent streets will also see more greening, increasing the connectivity of green spaces and mobility [Ref. 4-6]. The location on top of a tunnel limits the soil depth of the park, but the ambition is still to house a rich plant and animal life, including trees, providing ecosystem services [Ref. 1-6]. The project is managed by the City of Gothenburg [Ref. 1, 7].

The project, implemented by the municipality of Cagliari, involves the creation of a new garden in 2021 on Via Eroi d’Italia, in the Pirri municipality, located about 5 km from the center of Cagliari. This initiative is part of a broader effort to reclaim degraded urban green spaces. The garden spans approximately 900 square meters and was previously an unused lot serving as a parking area. Its transformation required substantial groundwork, including soil scarification and leveling, to prepare the area for its new purpose. The garden is now enclosed, with pedestrian access via two gates leading to a paved walkway.
Inside, the garden is divided into two main sections: a children's play area and a landscaped green space. The play area covers about 100 square meters and features durable artificial grass, swings, a spring toy, a universally accessible table, a children's table, benches, and a multi-compartment recycling bin. The green space, approximately 200 square meters, is planted with low-water-use grass and surrounded by drought-resistant plants like albizia, oleander, and lantana, chosen for their low water consumption and resilience to environmental stress. An underground irrigation system, linked to a 5,000-liter water tank, ensures efficient water use.
The remaining 600 sqm outside forms a parking area with 1 disabled space, 2 motorcycle spaces, 1 bicycle rack, and 15 car spaces.
The garden also incorporates sustainable elements, such as LED lighting for energy efficiency and a mural by renowned Sardinian artist Manu Invisible, depicting sunlit forest undergrowth in shades of green. This project responds to citizens' requests and prioritizes resource efficiency by reducing hazardous substances and minimizing waste. The materials used, including recycled plastics, and the selection of plants were chosen to match local ecological conditions, enhancing the garden's sustainability and reducing its environmental impact (Refs. 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5).

Coastal erosion is a well-known consequence of climate change, driven by rising sea levels, extreme storms, and powerful coastal surges. Dollymount Strand, a popular spot for bathing and water sports in Dublin, is particularly vulnerable. Located on North Bull Island and managed by Dublin City Council, the area is part of several protected zones, including a Special Area of Amenity, a Special Area of Conservation, a Special Protection Area, a Ramsar Wetland, a Natura 2000 site, and the UNESCO Dublin Bay Biosphere. To help mitigate this issue, Dublin City Council has implemented a solution that works with, rather than against, natural processes.
During late summer and autumn—particularly following high tides, warm weather, and storms—a type of seaweed called Ectocarpus siliculosis naturally accumulates along Dublin Bay’s beaches. Instead of removing it, the council allows the seaweed to remain, recognizing its essential role in maintaining the beach’s rich biodiversity. Ectocarpus contributes to the health of the coastal ecosystem, supporting marine life and enhancing the natural resilience of Dublin Bay. (1.2)

This project, implemented in several schools across Fort-de-France in 2018, focuses on creating arboretums in schools to educate children about Martinique's native natural heritage and raise awareness of biodiversity loss. An arboretum is a curated collection of trees selected for scientific, conservation or public enjoyment.
The initiative, led by the Martinican National Botanical Conservation, is supported technically by the municipal landscaping department and administratively by the city of Fort-de-France and the Martinican School Rectorate. It includes three main activities: a seminar on Martinique's rich yet fragile botanical heritage, an excursion into a forest, and a tree planting event at schools featuring native or endangered plant species. The program has reached at least six schools in and around Fort-de-France.
(Ref. 1,2,5)