Earmarked public budget

The NBS constitutes the annual planting of new trees, bushes, perennials, vines and flowers across Bialystok. The initiative is designed and implemented by City Hall and aims at improving the image of the urban area, and to provide a pleasant environment for the residents and tourists [1].

Ametzola is a neighborhood of Bilbao District 7 located on the left bank of the Bilbao estuary. In 2005 the construction of a park began since the neighborhood was seen as being alienated from other quarters of Bilbao and solicited a regeneration and integration into the urban life of the city. (Ref 1)

In 2015, the municipality of Białystok restored the riverbed of the Biala river to its natural state. The project addresses the rapidly changing climate and atmospheric conditions which cause more frequent storms by improving the water management in the city. The city reconstructed the old riverbanks, built two ponds for retention, which serve as reservoirs and tanks to stop and distribute the excess water [1,2].

Extending from Kalasadam to the Noblessner quarter, the beta-promenade is a simple footpath along the seaside (from the fish market of the Fishing Harbor to the port town of Noblessner), created by removing fences, opening up gates and fortifying the shore. (ref 1) It is a project for public space creation in Tallinn Seaside by Linnalabor, where the seafront area is heightened in the public interest (Ref 2)
The beta promenade was made by filling an old, impassable landfill on a sometimes bumpy and fenced-in, but sea-view and spacious footpath, opening the old gate of the Patarei Fortress wall and marking the nearly two-kilometre shore route (ref. 1).

The NBS is located on a previously neglected basketball and other games fields with obsolete and long unused equipment. Owing to the citizens’ initiative, the municipality built a new sport and leisure site at the Jaroszowka housing estate in Białystok. The project has increased social integration between different generations and provided a comfortable, safe and surrounded by nature space for sports and recreation. The project involved the planting of greenery, building a multifunctional playground and a multisport field, and it was complemented by benches, toilets, CCTV, and lights [1,2,4].

In 2016, owing to the participatory budget of Białystok, the citizens received a long-awaited outdoor gym and playground in the vacant green area of the city. The initiative aimed to increase public access to the green recreational area in the city, and connect the Białka riverside with residential boroughs. The project involved greenery planting and re-arrangement of the greenery (including some deforestation), revitalization of a pond and water purification, connecting walking and bicycle paths. Lawns are available for family picnics and recreation [1,2].

The reduced green space in cities and the declining level of unstructured physical activity affect especially children as major developments in the immune system occur during the first years of life. Interacting with nature also increases perceived well-being and promotes environmental responsibility. The KOTA-project was funded by Helsinki Metropolitan Region Urban Research Program and the University of Helsinki conducted the study. KOTA examined how greening of kindergarten yards affects children’s health and well-being in the urban environment. Six kindergarten yards were transformed and a control group of non-modified kindergartens was used. The project extended beyond Helsinki, with the transformed sites being not only in Espoo (part of the Helsinki Capital Region). (ref. 1).

The project aims to turn Honkasuo forest and meadow area into an urban village to house 2000 residents. These delightful nature elements have been preserved, for the most part, and the wave of sustainable development that is sweeping over the area has a definite environmental/ecological symbol as well (ref. 4). The constructions are aimed to be made out of wood and are meant to attract a diversity of people. Part of this project is the creation of a park, urban farming plots, natural design to attract butterflies, a playground and natural ponds to retain rainwater (ref. 2,3,4). Part of the development has been completed with residents start moving in 2016, although the landscaped embankment is expected to be completed in 2022

Excess rainwater in sewers causes flooding and the overflow spills into the rivers. Rainwater spilling across pavements can also make for an unpleasant walking experience in the city. Dublin City Council, in collaboration with residents, ran a trial use of Rain Box Planters as a way of both greening the streets and better managing rainwater coming from roofs. The Rain Box Planters were placed below houses’ gutters in order to slow the torrent of water entering the drain. The first trials were successful and the next stage is to test them on a larger scale. (ref 2, 3)

Owing to European Funds, the University of Białystok opened a new modern ecological campus for the faculties of biology, mathematics and computer science. The new campus was designed to incorporate green and blue infrastructure elements, and embody the pro-ecological profile of the investment. Green vegetation covers the university's walls and roofs, which is nearly half of the 30,000 square meters big campus. There is a brook around buildings and small ponds in the university's inner courtyards. The campus uses a sustainable rain drainage system, which is located on the roof, and the rainwater flows to the artificial water tanks and is continuously filtered and redistributed. Finally, there is a publicly accessible centre for ecological education. Large decorative installations on each of the four courtyards enhance the aesthetic experience in the campus and inspire the faculty and students [1,2].