Transformation of previously derelict areas

A 1.96-hectare insidious unused land in the District 2 of Bucharest has been transformed into a modern park through a project funded by European funds. The project was selected in the top 100 Regional as an example of good European practice.Initially, the park was a storage space for household waste (1, 3).

With the decline in industrial use, the grey harbour landscape of Frankfurt am Main became a habitat for rare plants. In 1986, the city council ordered transformation of the former industrial area into a public green space between the Main and the new residential area in the Ostend. The bright, spacious park with 2.1 ha surface was finished in 2000 (1) now welcoming locals for recreation and exercise while it also hosts a cultural summer festival and gives a home for local wall and fence lizards (1).

The Mab Lane Community Woodland was planted on a former playing field at Mab lane and Croxdale Road West in Liverpool. It is a part of the larger Mersey Forest initiative which has been increasing the amount of woodland and green spaces across Cheshire and Merseyside since 1991.
The new woodland which has a network of native trees, wildflower meadows a community orchard as well as seasonal wetland areas and footpaths, was officially opened by the local community in 2010. It also includes new pathways for walkers and cyclists and areas for family picnics (Ref. 2, 10). Mab Lane Community Woodland is a partnership project involving the Forestry Commission, Northwest Development Agency, Mersey Forest, Big Lottery, Riverside Group, Liverpool City Council and the Local Community (Ref. 10).

Carillion-igloo, a joint venture company formed between The igloo Regeneration Partnership and Carillion plc was selected by Newcastle City Council and the Homes and Communities Agency to work in partnership with them in the redevelopment of a number of sites in the Lower Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle.
The regeneration project has been carried out in line with the sustainable investment policy of Igloo and consists of 5 phases. Phase 1: The Mailings focused on the transformation of a former industrial brownfield into a vibrant residential area on the banks of the Ouseburn promoting sustainable, low-energy living, flood protection and community building. These objectives were achieved by green areas creation, sustainable drainage system application and unique urban planning measures. (2, 15)

The project revitalized beaches around three lakes near Poznan: Kierskie, Strzeszynskie, and Rusalka. Over 1000-ha of forest and three lakes located within the city borders make this a unique recreational area for the inhabitants of Poznan and its surroundings. The project aims to modernize the neglected beaches and build basic infrastructure and communication paths. The plans involved cleaning of the area, planting greenery, regulation of the lake beachline, introducing environmentally friendly solutions (e.g. solar lamps), open-air playgrounds and gyms, and renovation/installation of the new bridges over the lakes [1].

In 1995 the city of Munich decided to implement a new green residential district in the derelict area of the former Munich-Riem airport which was closed in 1992. (Reference 9) The area was designed to have an intensively used residential area in the north and an extensively used green recreational area in the south. The project was completed in 2005. It is 210 hectares large, making it the third-largest public park in Munich. (Reference 1) The park includes a 10-hectare large artificial lake, a 15-hectare large forest and two 20 meter high artificial observation and toboggan hills made from the demolition material of the former airport. (Reference 9) The park is appreciated by people but concerns about the loss of biodiversity have been raised. Citizens use the park for walking, cycling, swimming in the lake or simply for relaxation. (Reference 4)

The "PROSIT" project aimed at undertaking a series of actions based on environmentally compatible mechanisms to protect and recover the coastal rural territory of Cinque Terre. Today, the terraced landscape is characterised by intense processes of land abandonment and disuse, caused both by practical and economic difficulties of maintenance and by social changes. There is a risk that the damage caused by land abandonment can compromise the area's delicate hydrogeological balance, especially in an area where landslides and floods are highly common (1). A demonstration project to recover abandoned terraces was carried out in five areas of the park (1).

The project was born from the purchasing of an ex-military area in the Flaminio neighbourhood and the decision to build a city of science with a museum, a public park and residential areas that will have green roofs and sustainable, energy-efficient building. The project was proposed to several architectural studios and the Studio 015 Paola Viganò is the one who got assigned the project in 2015 (3).
Due to changes in public administration and financing already found in 2017 (7), the project still has not started (2020), as in 2019 the citizens were once again consulted over the works and the project (7). Initially, the project should end in 2023 (should last 8 years) (4).

A previous mining site was redeveloped into the Puits Couriot Park-Museum of Mining. "A first part of the park was opened to the public in 2006. Since then, the developments have followed one another and others are to come in the near future, among others, the footbridge spanning the railway line" (Ref. 5). The park was redesigned from 2014-2017 with the intention to preserve the historical heritage of this museum of the mine. "The park Joseph Sanguedolce (or also mentioned as Couriot Park) is designed to meet the usages of all, in a gentle logic of appropriation of the site by nature, conducive to walking and relaxation. The large lawn is maintained for sporting activities or relaxing in the grass, in the sun ..." (Ref. 3).

Formed by residents and local organisations, the original focus of Greening Wingrove & Arthur's Hill was to address issues of litter and flytipping in Wingrove. The informal association later became a Cooperative (Community Interest Company) (1,2). Since its formation, the organisation aims to clean and green its part of Newcastle's West End through a diverse set of activities (15). These include the development of a former bowling green to become a community bike garden and community hub; encouraging locals' action on litter, promoting greening and food growing and local stewardship (4)

The Wild West End project encompasses the goals and visions of Greening Wingrove & Arthur's Hill. The project is aiming to explore local natural heritage, with a focus on species currently at risk such as bats, birds (swifts and house martins) and hedgehogs with the inclusion of residents, schools and local communities. Besides mapping the status of these species, habitat creation is also an objective to prevent the further decline of these at risk species in the area (15, 16)