1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Miskolc (FUA) Region Europe Native title of the NBS intervention Tündérkert - WOW Pihenőpark Short description of the intervention The Fairy Garden, also known as the WOW Recreational Park, is a distinctive green space located near Diósgyőr Castle in Miskolc, Hungary. Since its opening in April 2020, the park has quickly gained popularity, earning third place in the 2020 Tourism Attraction of the Year award in the professional category. Once a neglected and polluted site with historical significance, the area was transformed by a local entrepreneur. After removing over sixty containers of waste, including hazardous materials, a park was created that harmonizes with the natural environment, preserving existing willow trees and integrating water features fed by local streams. When creating the park, the creators respected the plants of the area to the maximum, not a single tree was cut down, and the fruit trees were also kept. The park boasts various decorative elements, including a carousel, a garden cinema, and other amenities. However, in September 2021, it was closed indefinitely for renovations. Gábor Vaszil, the lessee who had rented the land from the Miskolc municipality, intended to purchase the property for further development. Despite initial support from the local government, the transaction was halted due to concerns raised by the regional Water Management and Protection Authority regarding the protection of Miskolc's drinking water resources. Their ongoing investigation has delayed any further decisions about the sale or the future of the park. In the meantime, the garden remains open to the public for leisurely walks, similar to other municipal parks in Miskolc. (Ref.1-4) Website of the intervention https://www.hellomiskolc.hu/tunderkert Principal problems Land use and Socio-economic change Unequal availability and access to public green spaces Health, Well-being and Social cohesion Inadequate access to recreational opportunities Disconnection from nature Other Please specify other principal problem Green space area was decaying, abandoned and used as an illegal dumping site (Ref.1) Implementation area characterization Climate Continental (Cold-summer humid continental, Cold-winter dry continental, Cold-summer dry continental) Ecosystem Rivers/streams Urban or built environment Address Miskolc Tokaji Ferenc u. 63 3534 Hungary Location The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by). Area boundary (map-based) NBS area image Source of NBS area image Source: https://www.google.com/maps/place/Fairy+Garden+Miskolc/@48.097796,20.6907842,614m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x47409fa7deb60ec9:0x65c3489782cdbb05!8m2!3d48.0971646!4d20.6918832!16s%2Fg%2F11fp37jq3t?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MTAyMy4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Freshwater setting (e.g. river, channel, lake, pond) Residential Public Greenspace Area Waste disposal site or landfill Vacant or abandoned land Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2020 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2020 End date of the intervention 2021 Present stage of the intervention Other Please specify "other" stage of the intervention Completed but temporally closed until further notice (Ref.1) 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention -To clean and rehabilitate a previously neglected and polluted area, removing hazardous waste and restoring the natural landscape. -To create a park that harmonizes with the surrounding environment, preserving existing trees and integrating the stream found at the project location into the park as an improved water feature, providing habitat for species. -To develop a space that is free and accessible and offers cultural, recreational activities and opportunities for interactions, including a garden cinema, live music events, and various decorative elements. -To establish the park as a significant tourist attraction in Miskolc, contributing to the local tourism industry. (Ref.1-4) Key Priorities Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration) Social Justice and community Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Environmental quality Waste management Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Habitat and biodiversity conservation Regeneration, land-use and urban development Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development Water management (SDG 6) Improvements to water quality Health and well-being (SDG 3) Creation of opportunities for recreation Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Social interaction Economic development and employment (SDG 8) Tourism support Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What types of conservation goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention? Species-focused Ecosystem-focused Habitats and biodiversity conservation: What activities are implemented to realize the conservation goals and targets? Protect and enhance urban habitats Preserve and strengthen existing habitats and ecosystems Protect species Undertake specific measures to protect species Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities The implementation work for the Fairy Garden was led by project developer Gábor Vaszil and his friends, along with a hired construction company. The first major step involved removing over sixty containers of waste from the site, which included hazardous materials such as automotive tires, construction debris, asbestos, and other pollutants. Next, the team focused on restoring the area by rerouting water from the site to nearby streams and addressing the natural water systems without disturbing historical earthworks. Throughout the development, special care was taken to ensure that no trees were cut down; the emphasis was on maintaining the existing flora while integrating fruit trees among other plants. Utilizing the natural water sources, the project created and maintained a stream running through the park, which provides a drainage solution for the marshy area and habitats for ducks and other wildlife. Various decorative elements were installed, including a Venetian horse carousel, as a central attraction. In addition to these features, a garden cinema was created, surrounded by a pergola and an open-air stage for hosting events such as film screenings, concerts, and performances. A rooftop café and an artisanal ice cream shop were constructed. (Ref. 1-4) Type of NBS project Maintenance and management of urban nature Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks) Ecological restoration of ecosystems Remediation activities of sites with very poor environmental quality Ecological restoration of existing green spaces Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems) Transformation of previously derelict areas Landfill reclamation 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Blue infrastructure Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors Parks and urban forests Large urban parks or forests Amenities offered by the NBS Benches and drinking water stations Cultural (museum, concert areas) Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café) Other Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS Carousel (Ref.1) Design elements for well-being Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation) Tactile elements (e.g., natural materials like wood or stone, exposure to sunlight) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Provisioning services Water (surface and ground water for drinking and non-drinking purposes) Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Tourism Aesthetic appreciation Recreation Social and community interactions Scale Spatial scale Sub-microscale: Street scale (including buildings) Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area According to the 2001 census, the population of the district is 18,065, which represents 9.9% of the city's population. Its area is 17.4 km², with a population density of 1,063 people per km². The age structure is slightly older than the city average, the proportion of those with lower education levels is more favorable, while the proportion of those with higher education is slightly lower than the city average. In terms of employment, it does not differ from the Miskolc average. (Ref.5) Socio-economic profile of the area Unknown Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts No Non-government actors Other Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Unknown Specify primary beneficiaries Local community: Residents of Miskolc, particularly those living near the Diósgyőr Castle area, who gained access to a free and well-maintained recreational space for leisure, cultural activities, and community events. Tourists and visitors: Both domestic and international tourists who benefit from the park as a unique cultural and natural attraction, enhancing their experience of the region. (Ref.1-4) Marginalized groups Unknown Other beneficiaries Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators) Native plant vegetation Public health (e.g. increased physical activity opportunities, reduced stress) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Led by non-government actors Please specify other non-government actors involved Individual project developer, changemaker (Ref.1) Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative The entrepreneur, Gabor Vaszil, who led the restoration and development efforts is the main stakeholder, driving the project’s vision and execution, is a wealthy developer who decided to rent and beautify the project area after finding its previous neglected state unsatisfactory. Vaszil hired a construction company to carry out the implementations. At the start, the project was just a volunteer cleaning effort carried out by Vaszil and his friends that turned into this initiative. Miskolc Municipality is the landowner and regulatory authority, overseeing the lease, potential sale, and compliance with environmental regulations. The Regional Water Management and Protection Authority is crucial in ensuring that the project does not compromise local water resources, particularly concerning the area’s historical water systems. (Ref.1-4) Key actors - initiating organization Private sector/corporate actor/company Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Local government/municipality Public sector institution Private sector/corporate actor/company Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) The project didn't involve any form of stakeholder participatory activities Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Infrastructure & Management Utility companies: water, sewage, etc. Land owners Public space owned by the city Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan Unknown Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Please specify other type of voluntary intervention individual changemaker-driven environmental and cultural revitalization initiative (Ref.1) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships) Change agents (individual with major role influence on launching) Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. Gabor Vaszil, businessman, project founder and initiator The project was based on a lease agreement between the private company and the municipality of Miskolc. (Ref.3) Governace and decison-making instruments Public - private business agreement (e.g. public private collaborations, public-private-partnerships (PPP)) Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers The initiative faced legal and bureaucratic barriers, particularly concerning the lease and potential purchase of the land. Although the lessee intended to buy the property for further development, the transaction was halted by the regional Water Management and Protection Authority due to concerns about the impact on Miskolc's drinking water resources. The ongoing regulatory investigation delayed any resolution, creating uncertainty about the future of the park. (Ref.2,3) Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) The whole project was financed by the initiator, Gabor Vaszil, project budget was unspecified. (Ref.3) What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? n/a Source(s) of funding Angel / informal investors Type of fund(s) used Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution No Co-finance for NBS Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities No Business models Business models Urban offsetting model (biodiversity or water) Vacant space model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Private for-profit actor (e.g. firm, insurer) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Environmental quality Improved waste management Achieved improved waste management Water management and blue areas Improved water quality Achieved improved water quality Green space and habitat Restoration of derelict areas Achieved restoration of derelict areas Description of environmental benefits -Restoration of derelict areas/-Achieved improved waste management: "When we managed to secure the lease agreement, the initial goal was simply to landscape the area and plant grass, but the amount of waste seemed endless. We removed sixty (!) containers of hazardous waste, including car tires, construction debris, asbestos, and old roof structure parts. As soon as the draining of the marshy, wet area began and the drainage ditch, or "stream," was created, our imagination ran wild. Everyone contributed something. Today, it is almost complete, and soon, a part of the currently closed-off area will be opened." (Ref.8) -Achieved improved water quality: "Since it is a marshy area, drainage also had to be solved. The small stream in the garden is used for this, which the wild ducks have already discovered for themselves. There are nearly twenty of them, but other birds will also find a home here. " (Ref. 8) Economic impacts Attraction of business and investment Achieved attraction of business and investment Description of economic benefits Attraction of business and investment: "The marshy area was used as a dumping ground until a few years ago when a local entrepreneur and his friends decided to save the area's wildlife and plants. They cleared away the accumulated waste and embarked on a long project to create something truly stunning: a cinematic garden featuring a Venetian carousel, rose arbors, a garden cinema, a cafe, and characters from the beloved film *The Wizard of Oz*." (Ref.7) Social and cultural impacts Social justice and cohesion Improved access to urban green space Achieved improved access to urban green space Increased opportunities for social interaction Achieved increased opportunities for social interaction Description of social and cultural benefits -Improved access to urban green space: "The marshy area was used as a dumping ground until a few years ago when a local entrepreneur and his friends decided to save the area's wildlife and plants. They cleared away the accumulated waste and embarked on a long project to create something truly stunning: a cinematic garden." (Ref.7) -Increased opportunities for social interaction: "We dreamed of creating the park so that many kind and beautiful souls could recharge in a romantic environment. It's meant for families, dog owners (with leashes and plastic bags, of course), retirees with their grandchildren, those with a good book, young people for meaningful conversations (or a first kiss), singles looking to meet someone, and anyone who feels a little magic close to their heart." (Ref.8) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process 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 Name of any specific impact assessment tools Unknown. Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Unknown Justice Community satisfaction Positive: The majority of feedback and reports indicate high levels of satisfaction and appreciation for the NBS project within the community. Description of locals satisfaction with the project "Wonderful place to relax and enjoy the variety of flowers, prices are reasonable". "August 2020 We just happened to be visiting the area during their grand opening weekend. It’s a beautiful park with gorgeous decorations. It’s very close to the castle, which gives visitors more to see in the area. There’s a lot of pretty areas, a very Instagram-able park. The drinks, food, and gelato were good. We especially loved the beautiful carousel at night and the amazing outdoor movie space." "Unexpectedly and fantastically spectacular park - landscaping to die for, with free entry and free parking. Stunning." (Ref.6) Trade-offs & Negative impacts Other Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected Potential negative effects of the project operations on the drinking water source beneath the project area are being evaluated by the regional Water Management and Protection Authority (Ref.3). Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement No initiatives or policies were implemented High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) No Goal setting and impacts delivery No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Please specify the achievements of the project goals Biodiversity goals: -Restoration of derelict areas/-Achieved improved waste management: "When we managed to secure the lease agreement, the initial goal was simply to landscape the area and plant grass, but the amount of waste seemed endless. We removed sixty (!) containers of hazardous waste, including car tires, construction debris, asbestos, and old roof structure parts. As soon as the draining of the marshy, wet area began and the drainage ditch, or "stream," was created, our imagination ran wild. Everyone contributed something. Today, it is almost complete, and soon, a part of the currently closed-off area will be opened." (Ref.8) -Achieved improved water quality: "Since it is a marshy area, drainage also had to be solved. The small stream in the garden is used for this, which the wild ducks have already discovered for themselves. There are nearly twenty of them, but other birds will also find a home here. " (Ref. 8) Social justice and community Goals: -Improved access to urban green space: "The marshy area was used as a dumping ground until a few years ago when a local entrepreneur and his friends decided to save the area's wildlife and plants. They cleared away the accumulated waste and embarked on a long project to create something truly stunning: a cinematic garden." (Ref.7) -Increased opportunities for social interaction: "We dreamed of creating the park so that many kind and beautiful souls could recharge in a romantic environment. It's meant for families, dog owners (with leashes and plastic bags, of course), retirees with their grandchildren, those with a good book, young people for meaningful conversations (or a first kiss), singles looking to meet someone, and anyone who feels a little magic close to their heart." (Ref.8) Long-term perspective Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability. Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts A. All stakeholders benefit fairly from the project Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution) Magnitude of change Reformist: by focusing on addressing underlying drivers of change but failing to address the problem structurally or systemically Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. Wikipedia contributers (n.d.). WOW Pihenőpark. Wikipedia, Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Download]; 2. Szaniszlo, B. (2023). Ez (nem) történik most a miskolci Tündérkertben - fotókkal, videóval. BOON, Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Sokszínű Vidék (2022). Megoldást szeretne a miskolci tündérkert ügyében a borsodi főispán. [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Hegyi, E. (2021). Nem bezárják, felújítják a miskolci Tündérkertet. BOON, Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. Wikipedia contributers (n.d.). Diósgyőr. Wikipedia, Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. Google reviews writers (n.d.). wow szabadidőpark, tündérkert miskolc reviews. Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 7. Dakos, E. (2020). A városi lét és a vidéki élet jóféle találkozása: Miskolc csodája, a Tündérkert. woohoo, Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 8. Hegyi., E. (2019). Mi az a csodás kert a vár tövében?. BOON, Accessed on September 23, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon Image Wizard of Oz characters' statues along the walkway Valbonatours Image Aerial view of the Wow park - Fairy garden Ede Marton Image A section of the Wow park - Fairy garden Ref.8 Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon
Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon
Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon
Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon
Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon
Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon
Image Wow Garden https://www.boon.hu/helyi-kozelet/2023/03/miskolc-diosgyor-tunderkert-marcius-fotok-video-boon
