Renovation of Tapolca nature park

1. General information

Location and description of the intervention

City or FUA

Miskolc (FUA)

Region

Europe

Native title of the NBS intervention

Miskolctapolcai őspark felújítása

Short description of the intervention

Miskolctapolca is a district of Miskolc and features a nature park (which includes a lake, Csonakazo-to) originally planted in the 1920s using the exotic trees and bushes. In 2022 the municipality decided to renovate the area under a EU funded project called "Creating a Green City in Miskolc-Tapolca". The project aimed to establish a modern urban green space focused on active recreation for various age groups, enhancing Miskolc's appeal for tourism.
The renovation included new concrete paving system and updated utilities for the lakes' promenades with a strong emphasis on accessibility ensured smooth mobility throughout the area. The renovation added informative signs detailing local attractions, historical trees, and the park's history. To enhance visitor comfort, a new accessible restroom was constructed. Renovations to the Csonakazo-to lake included removing accumulated silt and reinforcing the shoreline, alongside the addition of new street furniture, lighting, and wooden sunbathing terraces and platforms. The two bridges around the lake were renewed, and the squirrel installation, a favorite among locals, were restored. Furthermore, a square in the park, Kilátó Square was transformed with benches and drinking fountains, creating a welcoming space for relaxation.
Additionally, extensive landscaping was carried out, including the planting of approximately 100 trees, 9,000 shrubs, 18,000 perennial plants, 2,300 annuals, 350 roses, and 6,600 bulbs.
The surrounding park, which had been in disrepair for decades, was thoroughly revitalized, blending traditional and modern aesthetics. This long-overdue renovation significantly enhanced the environment. The construction was carried out by FEDRID Építőipari Kft., starting in spring 2022, and was completed in May 2023 after some delays.
(Ref.1,2,3)

Website of the intervention

https://www.miskolc.hu/varoshaza/onkormanyzat/palyazatok/onkormanyzat-altal-eln…

Principal problems

Environmental Degradation

Biodiversity loss

Poor water quality

Other

Please specify other principal problem

Degraded and neglected park and surrounding recreational area (Ref.1)

Implementation area characterization

Climate

Continental (Cold-summer humid continental, Cold-winter dry continental, Cold-summer dry continental)

Ecosystem

Urban or built environment

Address

Miskolc-Tapolca
Pazár István stny. 1
3519
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

https://www.miskolc.hu/sites/default/files/egyszeru_oldal/melleklet/2023-05-17/73057/tapolcaterkepvegleges.pdf

Area description

Other urban area outside city center (e.g. another municipality in the FUA, commuting zone)

Type of area before implementation of the NBS

Residential

Public Greenspace Area

Other

Please specify “other type of area” before implementation of the NBS

Recreational/touristic area (Cave bath and water park) (Ref.1)

Timeline of intervention

Start date of the intervention (planning process)

2022

Start date of intervention (implementation process)

2022

End date of the intervention

2023

Present stage of the intervention

Completed

2. Objectives of the intervention

Objectives of the intervention

Goals of the intervention

To increase the area's attractiveness as a tourist destination by modernizing and beautifying key public spaces, establishing a city park with contemporary design elements and thematic zones for active recreation and physical activities.
To ensure that key public areas are fully accessible to people with disabilities.
To enhance the functionality and aesthetics of public spaces by renovating promenades, updating utilities, and installing new street furniture and lighting.
To restore, maintain and improve the water quality in the lake by removing accumulated silt and preserving historical elements like the old trees in the park.
To enhance the local environment through extensive landscaping, including the planting of thousands of trees, shrubs, and other plants to improve biodiversity.
To educate visitors about the local environment, the history of the park, and the various plant and animal species found in the area by installing informational signs and paths.
To create economic opportunities for local businesses and the tourism sector.
(Ref.1,2,3)

Key Priorities

Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration)

Social Justice and community

Sustainability challenge(s) addressed

Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)

Green space creation and/or management

Habitat and biodiversity restoration

Regeneration, land-use and urban development

Promote natural styles of landscape design for urban development

Water management (SDG 6)

Improvements to water quality

Cultural heritage and cultural diversity

Preservation of natural heritage

Health and well-being (SDG 3)

Creation of opportunities for recreation

Enabling opportunities for physical activity

Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)

Social justice and equity

Environmental education

Economic development and employment (SDG 8)

Economic development: service sectors

Tourism support

What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention?

Ecosystem-focused

What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets?

Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems

Restore native species

Implementation activities and NBS focus

Implementation activities

The Municipality of Miskolc commissioned FEDRID Építőipari Kft. to implement a series of significant renovation activities aimed at enhancing the area’s public spaces.
The renovation of Barabits Promenade involved transforming the space with new concrete paving, updated utilities, and modern street furniture, complemented by newly installed lighting. Additionally, modern pavilions were constructed in accordance with local architectural guidelines. Similarly, the revitalization of Tó Promenade included repaving to create an accessible route connecting the new Market Square in front of the Cave Bath to Kilátó Square near the Boating Lake. Informative signs were installed to educate visitors about the park’s history, flora, and fauna. The restoration of the Boating Lake involved removing accumulated silt and reinforcing its shoreline. New street furniture and lighting were added around the lake, along with wooden sunbathing terraces and platforms. Kilátó Square was refurbished with new benches and drinking fountains, offering lovely views of the lake and its fountain, while two bridges around the lake were also renovated.
Extensive landscaping efforts enhanced the local environment with the planting of over 100 trees, 9,000 shrubs, 18,000 perennial plants, 2,300 annuals, 350 roses, and 6,600 bulbs.
Finally, the deteriorated Őspark was revitalized by merging traditional and modern aesthetics to create a visually appealing environment. (Ref. 1)

Type of NBS project

Maintenance and management of urban nature

Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks)

Updated management structure of existing green spaces (e.g. parks)

Ecological restoration of ecosystems

Ecological restoration of existing green spaces

Restoration and protection of ecosystems (including water ecosystems)

Knowledge creation and awareness raising

Educational and awareness raising programs

3. NBS domains, ES and scale

NBS domain and interventions

Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented

Blue infrastructure

Lakes/ponds

Parks and urban forests

Large urban parks or forests

Amenities offered by the NBS

Benches and drinking water stations

Playgrounds

Sports areas and equipment

Swimming areas

Educational or biodiversity trails

Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café)

Viewing and outlook points

Design elements for well-being

Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation)

Auditory elements (e.g., birdsong, water features, quiet areas, rustling leaves)

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

Inspiration for culture, art and design

Recreation

Intellectual interactions (scientific and / or educational)

Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals

Scale

Spatial scale

Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level

Beneficiaries

Demographics in implementation area

Population of Miskolctapolca: 3096; number of homes: 1570. Miskolctapolca is a suburban, touristical neighborhood of Miskolc. (Ref.4)

Socio-economic profile of the area

Unknown

Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts

Primary Beneficiaries

Local government/Municipality

Private sector/Corporate/Company

Citizens or community groups

Marginalized groups

Specify primary beneficiaries

Residents of Miskolc-Tapolca: The local community benefits from improved recreational spaces, enhanced infrastructure, and increased accessibility (for people with disabilities as well), making the area more enjoyable for daily activities and relaxation. The creation of thematic, age-specific recreational areas ensures that people of all ages can engage in outdoor activities, fostering a healthier lifestyle and leisure opportunities.

Local businesses and the tourism industry: By improving the area's infrastructure and increasing its appeal to tourists, local businesses, especially in the hospitality and retail sectors, are likely to see increased economic activity.

The Municipality of Miskolc: The municipality benefits from increased tourism, which contributes to the local economy through higher visitor numbers, creating new opportunities for growth and enhancing Miskolc's reputation as a tourist destination.
(Ref.1,2,3)

Marginalized groups

People with functional diversities

Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups

The project prioritized accessibility by ensuring that key areas like promenades and parks are fully accessible, benefiting people with limited mobility. (Ref.1)

Specify measures taken for vulnerable or marginalized communities

Other

Please specify other measure

Implementation of wheelchair accessible paths (Ref.1)

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

Government-led

Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative

The Municipality of Miskolc served as the project initiator and a primary beneficiary, with the goal of enhancing tourism and improving local infrastructure. To execute and complete the project, the municipality commissioned FEDRID Építőipari Kft., a construction company known for its expertise. The initiative was further supported through co-financing from the European Regional Development Fund and Hungary’s national budget, which provided non-repayable funding essential for bringing the project to fruition.
(Ref.1,2,3)

Key actors - initiating organization

Local government/municipality

Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)

National government

Private sector/corporate actor/company

EU body

Stages of citizen and community engagement

Unknown

Level of citizen and community engagement

Limited

Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives

Unknwon

Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders)

Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)

Uncommon actors ("Missing actors")

Unknown

Land owners

Private sector or company

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)

Enablers & Barriers

Type of enablers

Funds, subsidies or investment for GI/NBS in the city (available for the city or provided by the city)

Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives.

the European Regional Development Fund and Hungary’s national budget (Ref.1) available for GI in the city.

Governace and decison-making instruments

Economic and fiscal instruments (e.g. subsidies or grants, charges or fees, payments for ecosystem services (PES))

Arrangements for governance cooperation

Unknown

Barriers

One significant issue was the extension of the project timeline. Originally set to be completed earlier, the construction work, which began in the spring of 2022, experienced setbacks. As a result, the contractor, FEDRID Építőipari Kft., requested a 70-day extension due to delays in completing specific tasks. This pushed the project’s final expected completion date to May 31, 2023. By this date most of the developments were completed, however, the project was only completely ready by 15.12.2023 as declared in their press release (Ref.1). In addition, the project received several negative comments due to its unkempt state (e.g., fallen branches, unmaintained lawns, chipped sidewalk) from some visitors (Ref.5).

Financing

Total cost

€2,000,000 - €4,000,000

Please specify total cost (EUR)

The project titled "Creating a Green City in the Miskolc-Tapolca Action Area" is being implemented with 100% funding, with contributions from the European Union and the Hungarian State, co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund. The amount of support is 1,288,084,892 HUF (3,252,862.61 Euro).

What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?

3,252,862.61 Euro (Ref. 1)

Source(s) of funding

Public national budget

EU funds

Type of fund(s) used

Earmarked public budget

Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)

Non-financial contribution

Co-finance for NBS

Yes

Co-governance arrangement

A fund / grant

Entrepreneurship opportunities

Unknown

Business models

Green densification model

Green heritage model

Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?

Public actor (e.g. municipality)

5. Evaluation and learning

Impacts, benefits

Environmental impacts

Water management and blue areas

Improved water quality

Achieved improved water quality

Green space and habitat

Increased green space area

Achieved increased green space area

Restoration of derelict areas

Achieved restoration of derelict areas

Description of environmental benefits

-Improved water quality: “After a long time, the accumulated silt in the bed of the Boating Lake was removed, and the lake's shoreline was reinforced.” (Ref.1)
-Increased green space area: “Approximately 100 trees, 9,000 shrubs, 18,000 perennials, 2,300 annual plants, 350 roses, and 6,600 bulbs were planted in the project area.” (Ref.1)
-Restoration of derelict areas: “With this project the Municipality of Miskolc restored an area that has been decaying for years” (Ref.6)

Environmental impact indicators

Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced

~36,500

Economic impacts

More sustainable tourism

Expected more sustainable tourism

Stimulate development in deprived areas

Achieved stimulate development in deprived areas

Attraction of business and investment

Expected attraction of business and investment

Generation of income from NBS

Expected generation of income from NBS

Description of economic benefits

More sustainable tourism/Stimulate development in deprived areas: “Miskolctapolca is rightly considered the jewel of Miskolc's tourism. However, there had not been any significant developments in the area for decades, until last year, when comprehensive and multifaceted reconstruction work began. The work has now been completed, but even while professionals were still working in certain areas, it was clear that visitors already loved the reborn Miskolctapolca, even in its “half-finished” state. The promenades were almost always full, and visitors immediately made use of the brand-new street furniture, benches, and tables. Similarly, the lookout and rest terraces built by the Boating Lake quickly came to life and were filled with activity.” (Ref.2)
Attraction of business and investment/Generation of income from NBS: “Three smaller and three larger new pavilions were built, which will function as retail and service points, and their tenants will be selected through an open tender.” (Ref.2)

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

Public disclosure of project funding sources and/or budgets

Justice

Community satisfaction

Mixed: Feedback and reports show a combination of positive and negative sentiments regarding satisfaction with the NBS project within the community.

Description of locals satisfaction with the project

Positive: “The previously dilapidated environment has been spectacularly renewed, and now we can go and admire it. The work has just been completed, but it was already clear, even when professionals were still working in certain areas, that visitors "loved" the newly reborn Miskolctapolca even in its unfinished state. The promenades were almost always full, and the brand-new street furniture, benches, and tables were immediately taken over by visitors. Likewise, the lookout and rest terraces built by the Boating Lake quickly became lively and filled with activity.” (Ref.2)
Negative: “The situation is not exactly ideal. Some of the green areas are not sufficiently maintained. In the Őspark, the promenades and paths have a so-called "bonded gravel" surface. Much of this now looks as though it was completed half a decade ago. In several places, the surfaces have already required repairs—patching—which creates noticeable differences between the repaired and original surfaces, making it less aesthetically pleasing. In many areas, the curbs were also not properly finished.” (Ref.5)

Trade-offs & Negative impacts

Unknown

Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement

No initiatives or policies were implemented

High-quality & Transformative NBS

Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community)

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:
-Improved water quality: “After a long time, the accumulated silt in the bed of the Boating Lake was removed, and the lake's shoreline was reinforced.” (Ref.1)
-Increased green space area: “Approximately 100 trees, 9,000 shrubs, 18,000 perennials, 2,300 annual plants, 350 roses, and 6,600 bulbs were planted in the project area.” (Ref.1)
-Restoration of derelict areas: “With this project the Municipality of Miskolc restored an area that has been decaying for years” (Ref.6)
Social justice and community:
-Improved access to urban green space: “They implemented accessibility walkways and toilets to make the park more available to everyone” (Ref.1)
-Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: “The renovated Kilátó Square not only offers views of the fountain and the lake but also serves as a place for relaxation and refreshment with its benches and drinking fountains.[..] The park is an ideal destination leisurely walks in nature” (Ref.1)
-Increased knowledge of locals about local nature: “In the park, 11 uniquely designed educational trail signs introduce the local attractions: valuable old trees, the park's history and wildlife, as well as the newly planted shrub and perennial species.” (Ref.1)

Long-term perspective

Yes

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

Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation

Application of lessons learned

Unknown

Perception of Environmental Change

Unknown

6. Sources

References

Municipality of Miskolc (2023). Zöld város kialakítása Miskolc-Tapolca akcióterületen. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Toth, S. (2024). Látványos: így újult meg Miskolctapolca az elmúlt két-három évben. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Szabo, A. (2023). Látványosan megújult Miskolc ősparkja. Magyar Epitok, Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Helysegnevtar (2023). Miskolc alapadatok. Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Szaniszlo, B. (2024). Rohamos romlásnak indult az alig egy éve átadott miskolctapolcai park - képekkel. BOON, Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Municipality of Miskolc (2023). Térkép segíti felfedezni a megújult miskolctapolcai park mini rejtélyeit. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Kujan, I. (2023). Elkészült a miskolctapolcai park, még egy utolsó bejárást tartottak a területen. minap, Accessed on September 6, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Toth, S. (2023). Friss: így néz ki a teljesen megújult miskolctapolcai park – képek. Borsod24, Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Municipality of Miskolc (n.d.). A park élővilága. Accessed on September 9, 2024, [Source link] [Archive];

Comments and notes

Public Images

The renovated and cleaned Boating Lake

Municipality of Miskolc

Newly installed accessibility pathway with growing flowers on its sides

Municipality of Miskolc

A squirrel at the Miskolctapolca Park

Municipality of Miskolc