1. General information
Location and description of the intervention
City or FUA
Szczecin
Region
Europe
Native title of the NBS intervention
Basen na Odrze - popływaj w rzece!
Short description of the intervention
The project aims to create a floating swimming pool on the Odra river, similar to a floating pool in Berlin. The pool would serve as a meeting place and the recreational area, but also as an impressive architectural and floating artwork. The pool would consist of three modules: a relaxation zone; filter module, composed of suitable plants responsible for clearing water straight from the river; and the pool/swimming area, filled with filtered water from the river. The pool should be mobile - made in such a way that by conventional means it could move within the urban waterfront [1].
Address

Szczecin
Poland

Location
Point location, which indicates where the NBS takes place
Type of area before implementation of the NBS
Natural Heritage Area/Untouched nature
Website of the intervention
http://konsultuj.szczecin.pl/konsultacje/files/0DDD5C37BEDE4E73B9D2FF29DB039E8D…
Timeline of intervention
Start date of the intervention (planning process)
2016
Start date of intervention (implementation process)
2017
End date of the intervention
2016
Present stage of the intervention
Planned, but cancelled
Goals of the intervention
The purpose of the project is to activate the Odra riverside area further, to bring the inhabitants closer to the river, as well as to realize the idea of the Floating Garden. Additionally, there is an ecological goal to bring users closer to nature and to educate them about the environment [1,4].
Quantitative targets
The project involves the construction of a floating platform on the river. A bridge is to join basins: 30 cm deep for the youngest users, 120 cm deep basin for adults, a stream, and the fourth basin with water jumping towers which should be 1m, 3m and 5 meters tall [1,2].
Monitoring indicators defined
Unknown
Sustainability challenge(s) addressed
Inclusive and effective governance (SDG 16)
Inclusive governance
Effective management
Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
Environmental education
Social interaction
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Enabling opportunities for physical activity
Improving physical health
Creation of opportunities for recreation
Cultural heritage and cultural diversity
Promotion of cultural diversity
Implementation activities
The planned activities include the construction of a floating platform on the river, four basins and a water jumping tower. The goal is to provide the city with an unusual piece of art, similar to the one which has already become popular in Berlin. It is supposed to provide the citizens with an interactive and aesthetically pleasing swimming/recreation/meeting area on the city's principal river. The pool would bring the users closer to nature and educate them about the importance of sustainable water management [1,2].
Type of NBS project
Creation of semi-natural blue areas
Improved governance of green or blue areas
Management and improved protection of rivers and other blue areas
NBS domain and interventions
Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented
Blue infrastructure
Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
Amenities offered by the NBS
Sports areas and equipment
Swimming areas
Cultural (museum, concert areas)
Services
Expected ecosystem services delivered
Regulating services
Water purification / filtration
Cultural services
Tourism
Aesthetic appreciation
Inspiration for culture, art and design
Recreation
Social and community interactions
Scale
Spatial scale
Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level
Beneficiaries
Primary Beneficiaries
Citizens or community groups
Governance
Governance arrangements
Co-governance with government and non-government actors
Non-government actors
Non-governmental organisation (NGO) / Civil society / Churches
Citizens or community groups
Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative
The non-governmental organization 'Fundacja na Odrze' initiated the project proposal, which aims to serve the citizens of Szczecin, and applied for funds for its realization to Szczecin's participatory city budget 2017. Citizens of Szczecin were voting for different projects of their liking and the winning projects were implemented in 2017 [1,5].
Key actors - initiating organization
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors)
Local government/municipality
Non-government organisation/civil society
Citizens or community group
Land owners
Public space owned by the city
Participatory methods/forms of community involvement used
Co-planning (e.g. stakeholder workshops, focus groups, participatory mapping)
Crowd-sourcing/Crowd-funding/Participatory budget
Consultation (e.g. workshop, surveys, community meetings, town halls)
Policy drivers
NBS intervention implemented in response to an 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
Yes
Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan"
The project proposal explicitly addresses Szczecin's long term strategy: 'Szczecin floating garden 2050' and indicates that the project would fit well into the city's long-term development plans in line with that strategy.(1) Moreover, the project proposal had to be in accordance with the city's plans, programs and strategies, in particular with the city's local development plans.(5)
Mandatory or voluntary intervention
Voluntary (spontaneous)
Please specify other type of voluntary intervention
Citizens' initiative that applied for funding from the participatory city budget.
Enablers
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS vision/strategy/plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of specific city-level GI/NBS section/part in a more general plan - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify the general plan with GI/NBS section
The project proposal explicitly addresses Szczecin's long term strategy: 'Szczecin floating garden 2050' and indicates that the project would fit well into the city's long-term development plans in line with that strategy [1]. For more details see: https://www.szczecin.eu/en
If there is a relevant strategy or plan, please specify the theme / type of the plan.
General municipal plan
Urban redevelopment plan
Presence of city network or regional partnerships focused on NBS - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Presence of GI / NBS research project - mentioned in connection to the project
Unknown
Subsidies/investment for GI / NBS in the city - mentioned in connection to the project
Yes
Please specify
Participatory city budget.
Co-finance for NBS
No
Co-financing governance arrangements
No
Was this co-governance arrangement already in place, or was it set up specifically for this NBS?
Unknown
Financing
Total cost
€100,000 - €500,000
What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements?
2 100 000 PLN (around 495 000 EUR)
What are the total amount of expected annual maintenance costs?
Unknown
What is the expected annual maintenance costs of the NBS or GI elements?
Unknown
Please specify cost savings
Unknown
Please specify total cost (EUR)
2 100 000 PLN (around 495 000 EUR) - as stated in the project's application form.(1)
Source(s) of funding
Public local authority budget
Type of fund(s) used
Earmarked public budget
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Business models
Local stewardship model
Vacant space model
Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model?
Private non-for-profit actor (e.g. NGO, foundation)
Citizens / local communities
Type of innovation
Technological
Product innovation
Please specify technological innovation
Building a floating swimming pool on the Odra river would allow for the use of the river for swimming and recreational purposes in a way that was not possible before. The swimming pool will be also mobile and could change locations.(1) (2)
Novelty level of the innovation
The innovation is copied/derived from previous initiative(s) without substantial adaptation
Please specify novelty level of the innovation
The initiative is directly inspired by the similar initiatives developed in Berlin and Copenhagen. Susanne Lorenz who designed the Badeschiff concept in Berlin has also contributed to the project proposal for the swimming pool on the Odra river. The proposed pool would consist of modules designed by Suzanne specifically for Szczecin.(1)(4)
Replicability/Transferability
The innovation is not referred to as being transferred to new initiative(s)
Please specify Replicability/Transferability
The idea of the initiative is 'imported' from other locations, but there is no reference to transferring it further.
Impacts, benefits
Environmental impacts
Unknown
Description of environmental benefits
The project was not provided with funding in 2017. There is no evidence of re-application for funds in the following years.
Economic impacts
Unknown
Description of economic benefits
The project was not provided with funding in 2017. There is no evidence of re-application for funds in the following years.
Social and cultural impacts
Unknown
Description of social and cultural benefits
The project was not provided with funding in 2017. There is no evidence of re-application for funds in the following years.
Type of reported impacts
No impacts reported
Indicators
Unknown
Environmental, social and economic impacts
Water management (SDG 6)
Coastal resilience and marine protection (SDG 14)
Environmental quality
Regeneration, land-use and urban development
Health and well-being (SDG 3)
Analysis of specific impact categories
Job creation: The NBS created ...
No information available
Negative impacts: Did the project cause any problems or concerns?
No information was found regarding negative impacts of the project
COVID-19 pandemic
Unknown as of August of 2020.
Methods of impact monitoring
Process of recording NBS impacts
No evidence in public records
Methods used to evaluate the impacts of NBS
Not applicable
Evidence for use of assessment
Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process
Yes
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
Impact assessment mechanism
Name of any specific impact assessment tools
Unknown
Use of GIS in mapping impacts
No evidence in public records
Citizen involvement
Citizens involvement in assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Citizens involvement in the analysis of the assessment/evaluation
Unknown
Follow-up to the evaluation / assessment
Unknown
References
Web links relevant to the intervention
Ref. 1 (project's application form)
Ref. 2 (online article)
Ref. 3 (post on F5 online portal's website devoted to new trends)
Ref. 4 (online article)
project's facebook page
List of references
1. Project's application form, Szczecin's participatory budget 2017, 'Swimming pool on the Odra river - swim in the river!' ('Basen na Odrze - popływaj w rzece!'), http://konsultuj.szczecin.pl/konsultacje/files/0DDD5C37BEDE4E73B9D2FF29DB039E8D/100%20na%20BIP.pdf (Accessed: 04 August 2020).
2. Jaszczynski, M., (2016), 'Szczecin's participatory budget: Maybe we will build a swimming pool on the Odra river?' ('Szczeciński budżet obywatelski: A może zbudujemy basen na Odrze?), http://www.gs24.pl/wiadomosci/szczecin/a/szczecinski-budzet-obywatelski-a-moze-zbudujemy-basen-na-odrze,10689189/ (Accessed: 04 August 2020).
3. Blog post, (2017), 'In Szczecin, a swimming pool will be built on the Odra River? A project inspired by the Berlin swimming pool was created' ('W Szczecinie powstanie basen na Odrze? Stworzono projekt inspirowany berlińską pływalnią'), http://www.fpiec.pl/post/2017/01/05/wszczeciniepowstaniebxdrasennaodrzeprojekt Last accessed July 4 2017. Website not available in 2020.
4. Marciszewska, K., (2016), 'An unusual swimming pool on the barge will swim on the Odra River' ('Niezwykły basen na barce będzie pływał po Odrze'), www.wszczecinie.pl, https://www.wszczecinie.pl/aktualnosci,niezwykly_basen_na_barce_bedzie_plywal_po_odrze_wizualizacje,id-26615.html (Accessed: 04 August 2020).
5. Rules for submitting applications to the Szczecin citizens 'budget 2017' (‘Zasady składania wniosków do szczecińskiego budżetu obywatelskiego 2017’), http://konsultuj.szczecin.pl/konsultacje/chapter_116147.asp (Accessed: 04 August 2020).
Comments and notes
Comments
The project is only envisioned, as it did not receive funding within Szczecin's participatory budget 2017. However, I decided to include it instead of another 'flowers in the city' type of initiative, as I think it is a very interesting proposal that addresses multiple NBS domains. As the project proposal was developed for the recent budget (2017), it might also reapply for funds in this year's budget edition. I will contact the project proposal's authors to clarify that. - In 2020, there is no public information regarding similar applications. The project seems to have been temporarily or permanently put on hold / rejected.
Additional insights
All projects within the participatory city budget 2017 have to be positively evaluated according to the criteria: to be of an investment character, accessible to all residents, possible to be implemented within one financial year, in accordance with the plans, programs and strategies of the city, compatible with law and third party rights, requiring institutional co-operation of external entities (provided that the parties agree in writing on the establishment of an investment project on their territory and express their will to maintain it).(5)
Pictures of the NBS
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