1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Tirana (FUA) Region Europe Native title of the NBS intervention Parku Rinia Short description of the intervention Rinia Park has been a significant social and recreational area in the center of Tirana since the 1950s. Over the years, it has undergone several phases of development and restructuring, each linked to the socio-political regime of the time (Ref. 1). Its most recent rehabilitation was driven by the need to revitalize public spaces and improve the quality and accessibility of urban green areas. In 2019, extensive work on enhancing the park’s infrastructure and amenities began. By June 2020, installations were completed, including new and diverse playgrounds for children, improved lighting and drainage systems, expanded walking paths as well as designated chess and dog areas (Ref. 1,2,6). Both children and the elderly benefit from these new features, which promote social interaction and make the park more inclusive for different age groups (Ref. 2). To protect the Independence Monument from vandalism, a surrounding water feature was added. An additional benefit of the the new lighting installation is the extended access of the park well into the evening (Ref. 1,6). Given the park’s profound history, it stands as a symbol of urban renewal and continues to serve as a central gathering spot for people and cultural events (Ref. 7). Website of the intervention https://aprtirana.al/parqe-rekreative/parku-rinia/ 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 Poor community engagement Implementation area characterization Climate Temperate ( Humid subtropical, Hot-summer Mediterranean, Warm-summer Mediterranean, Warm-temperate with dry winter) Ecosystem Urban or built environment Address Rruga Ibrahim Rugova 3 1001 Tirana Albania 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://shqiptarja.com/lajm/hapet-parku-rinia-per-1-qershor-historia-e-vecante-e-vajzes-erdha-nga-astiri-ne-kembe-e-lodhshme-po-u-kenaqa Total area 29800.00m² NBS area 29800.00m² Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Public Greenspace Area Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2016 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2019 End date of the intervention 2020 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention Goal 1: Enhance the amenities available to visitors and increase the overall attractiveness and accessibility of the park by: Goal 1.1.: Installing updated infrastructure in the park for rainfall management and other needs (lighting, walkways) (Ref. 1) Goal 1.2: Facilitate interaction between visitors of the park, especially children and the elderly (Ref. 2) Goal 1.3: Increasing the number of hours the park can be visited (Ref. 1) Goal 1.4: Incease the amount of park trees (Ref. 5) Goal 1.5.: Install new amenities for physical activity of children and youth (Ref.1) Goal 2.: Protect the Independence monument from vandalism and enhance its appearance (Ref. 6) Goal 3: Promote cultural and festive events in the park to foster a sense of community (Ref. 6,7) Key Priorities Social Justice and community Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Water management (SDG 6) Stormwater and rainfall management and storage Cultural heritage and cultural diversity Protection of historic and cultural landscape/infrastructure Health and well-being (SDG 3) Creation of opportunities for recreation Enabling opportunities for physical activity Improving physical health Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Social interaction Sense of community and community engagement Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities Goal 1: Goal 1.1.: - Upgraded the park’s lighting system (Ref. 1) - Enhanced road infrastructure with new paving and tiling - Installing drainage to manage runoff from precipitation effectively. (Ref. 1) - Dedicated Dog Park (Ref. 1) Goal 1.2.: - Constructed a new amphitheatre square, addressing a key missing feature in the old park design. (Ref. 1) - Improved internet connectivity in the park (Ref. 1) - Seating options on the stairs leading to the amphitheatre were created for visitors to mingle. (Ref. 2) - Installed games for the elderly, such as chess and domino tables, promoting social interaction. (Ref. 2) Goal 1.3.: -Upgraded the park’s lighting system to extend use during evening hours. (Ref. 1) Goal 1.4.: - Plant 60 new trees (Ref. 5) Goal 1.5.: -Developed several mini-squares, labyrinths, and playgrounds and dirt tracks to foster interaction and physical activity. (Ref.2) Goal 2: Construct a water feature surrounding the Independence Monument to enhance its aesthetic appeal and protect it from vandalism. (Ref. 6) Goal 3: Organize festivals and host events at the park, such as the annual summer festival (Ref. 7) Type of NBS project Maintenance and management of urban nature Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks) 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Parks and urban forests Large urban parks or forests Amenities offered by the NBS Benches and drinking water stations Playgrounds Sports areas and equipment Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café) Other Please specify other amenities offered by the NBS Amphitheatre, wifi, fountain, famous restaurant, monument Design elements for well-being Olfactory elements (e.g., floral scents, earthy smells) Tactile elements (e.g., natural materials like wood or stone, exposure to sunlight) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Cultural services Recreation Mental and physical health and wellbeing Spiritual and / or emblematic (symbolic, sacred and / or religious) Social and community interactions Scale Spatial scale Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area unknown Socio-economic profile of the area Unknown Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Young people and children Other Please specify "other primary beneficiary" Eldely, Dog Owners Specify primary beneficiaries "[...] while today it can be called completely transformed because it is adapted to playgrounds for the little ones, environments for the elderly and park lovers" (Ref. 2) "In July 2019, work began on the transformation of the "Youth Park" and its return to a recreational space for all ages." (Ref. 1) "For the first time, it was possible to create a special area for dogs" (Ref. 1) Marginalized groups Children, young people or youth groups Elderly people Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups Creation of specific infrastructure for these park users. Other beneficiaries Unknown 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 Tirana announced the tender for the rehabilitation of Rinia Park. In the competition with 8 companies, the operator "Agi Kons" was declared the winner" Key actors - initiating organization Local government/municipality Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) 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") Unknown 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 Enhanced Public Service Provision Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Unknown Governace and decison-making instruments Unknown Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers unknown Financing Total cost €500,000 - €2,000,000 Please specify total cost (EUR) 104,629,747 new ALL = 850.000 EUR in 2019 What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? 850.000 EUR Source(s) of funding Public local authority budget Type of fund(s) used Earmarked public budget Non-financial contribution No Co-finance for NBS No Entrepreneurship opportunities Unknown Business models Business models Green densification model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Public actor (e.g. municipality) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Environmental quality Reduced noise exposure Achieved reduced noise exposure Green space and habitat Increased green space area Achieved increased green space area Increased number of species present Achieved increased number of species present Description of environmental benefits -Increased green space area: "In addition to green spaces [...]" (Ref. 2) ; "10 should have been planted on this surface soft pines and 30 wild pines. While 16 trees must be red birch and 7 must be plantain" (Ref. 5) "inspected the beginning of the works, which bring not only the aesthetic improvement of the park" (Ref. 6) [ to underline that the project is focused on maintaining an existing park.] -Reduced noise exposure: "In addition to green spaces and modern sidewalks, "Youth Park" also has a different relief on certain surfaces, which serves [...] as an acoustic wall," (Ref. 2), "Even now we can't hear any noise because the acoustics are great, you don't feel like you're in the middle of an urban area" (Ref. 2) -Increased number of species present: "10 should have been planted on this surface soft pines and 30 wild pines. While 16 trees must be red birch and 7 must be plantain" (Ref. 5) Environmental impact indicators Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced 63 trees total Economic impacts Unknown Description of economic benefits Unknown 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 Health and wellbeing Gain in activities for recreation and exercise Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise Improved physical health Expected improved physical health Cultural heritage and sense of place Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure Achieved protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure Description of social and cultural benefits -Improved access to urban green space: "The lighting of the park changed completely, creating suitable conditions for the use of the park until late in the evening" (Ref. 1) -Increased opportunities for social interaction: "Rinia Park comes alive with various cultural events and festivals. One of the most notable celebrations is the Summer Festival, held annually on March 14th. Visitors can witness a vibrant city marathon, circus shows, and performances by talented artists, creating an atmosphere of joy and celebration."(Ref. 7) -Gain in activities for recreation and exercise: "The investment of the Municipality of Tirana in the Youth Park envisages the creation of several mini-squares, children's squares, labyrinths, a playground, games for the elderly such as chess, dominoes, etc." (Ref. 6) -Improved physical health: "Youth Park" also has a different relief on certain surfaces, which [...] encourages physical activities for children. " (Ref. 2) -Protection of historic and cultural landscape / infrastructure: " [...] creation of a unique system for the protection of the Independence Monument from vandalism. [...] We'll have a water surround of the Independence Monument, which means it'll be a little more difficult for someone who wants to destroy the monument", added Veliaj. " (Ref. 6) 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 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 While the rehabilitation of the Park was long anticipated and well received, the quality and extend of the implemented infrastructure seems to be lacking despite the large investment that was provided by the municipality. There are also suspicions of clientelistic selection of the contract beneficiary as the result of legal violations and corruption in the allocation procedure. (Ref. 3) Upon completion, the following issues have arisen: Firstly, the project is criticised for a 3-month delay as well as for omitting initial plans of underground parking below the site (1200 lots). Secondly, a news report that instead of natural grass, synthetic grass has been installed (Ref. 3). Thirdly, drainage is not installed correctly, resulting in large pools of water in some areas after rain events - this happened only six days after the inauguration of the park (Ref. 4) . Lastly, only three months after the completion of the park, there have been reports of planted trees drying up on the site, indicating a lack of appropriate management (Ref. 5). Trade-offs & Negative impacts Environmental quality and environmental hazards Inadequate drainage that leads to stagnant water accumulation Other Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected However, shortly after its inauguration, concerns arose regarding the quality of the infrastructural installations. The drainage system failed to handle heavy rainfall, and newly planted trees showed signs of dieback (Ref. 4,5). This raised suspicions of clientelistic selection on the municipality's part, suggesting possible legal violations and corruption in the allocation process in light of the high costs of the rehabilitation activities (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 Some of the project goals were achieved Long-term perspective Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability. Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts C. Unknown Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Magnitude of change Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change No 6. Sources References 1. APR Tirana (n.d.). Parku Rinia . Accessed on September 15, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. BalkanWeb (2020). “Parku Rinia” gati për të pritur të vegjlit nesër për 1 Qershorin. Accessed on September 15, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Brakaj, M. (2020). The Rinia Park project worth 1 billion ALL and the lack of the promised parking lot. Faktoje. al, Accessed on September 15, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Gazeta Express (2020). 1 milion dollarë investime, por parku “Rinia” në Tiranë përmbytet nga uji 6 ditë pas inagurimit . Accessed on September 15, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. OraNews (2020). Parkut "Rinia" i thahen pishat . Accessed on September 15, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. Shqiptarja.com (2019). Transformohet Parku 'Rinia', rrethohet me ujë Monumenti i Pavarësisë (FOTO +VIDEO). Accessed on September 15, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 7. Live The World (2024). Rinia Park. Accessed on September 15, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Comments There is no information on the exact (green) area that has been rehabilitated (only parts of it). A good chunk of the park belongs to the Taivani complex which cannot be counted into the NBS area, since that is a restaurant that has been there for quite some time. Public Images Image d Dog Park (right) and walkays - visible issues with rainwater drainage https://faktoje.al/projekti-i-parkut-rina-me-vlere-1-miliard-leke-dhe-mungesa-e-parkingut-te-premtuar/ Image New Sign in Park Rinia https://aprtirana.al/parqe-rekreative/parku-rinia/ Image Southwestern area of the Park https://www.enturitaget.se/parku-rinia-och-taiwan/ Image Newly Installed Playground https://shqiptarja.com/lajm/transformohet-parku-rinia-gati-per-te-pritur-te-vegjlit-neser-per-1-qershorin
Image d Dog Park (right) and walkays - visible issues with rainwater drainage https://faktoje.al/projekti-i-parkut-rina-me-vlere-1-miliard-leke-dhe-mungesa-e-parkingut-te-premtuar/
Image Newly Installed Playground https://shqiptarja.com/lajm/transformohet-parku-rinia-gati-per-te-pritur-te-vegjlit-neser-per-1-qershorin
