Municipal / city level environmental plan or programme

In 2011 the Municipality of Lisbon promoted a project for urban gardens in the Horticultural Park of Telheiras (Ref.4).
The park is an allotment garden with the objective of supporting the urban agricultural practice for its own consumption. The residents of the locality had the possibility of renting at a symbolic price, one of the plots made available by the municipality (ref.5).
Beyond the provision of plots, the Council also provides fences, shelters for storage, water irrigation, training and technical support (ref. 1).

The project involved the revitalization of the area in Cacovická island in order to create conditions for year-round recreation and relaxation in the natural environment and to restore the ecosystem in the floodplain of the river Svitavy (Ref. 3). The project also restored the cultural heritage of the area by integrating elements of Celtic heritage within the design, as well as environmental education (Ref. 4).

The city of Clermont-Ferrand has 2 sites of family gardens, located at rue Robert Lemoy and rue du Château des Vergnes at which they have installed on a total area of 40 216 m², 172 parcels leased to, mainly, Clermontois residents in apartments without gardens. The gardens are a true place of life for gardeners where families and friends may meet and share convivial moments. Inscribed in a practice respectful of the environment, the gardeners and their cultivations turn toward a kind of agriculture that expects from each gardener an eco-responsible behavior in the production of food (Ref. 1).

Isar River had been regulated at the end of the 19th century by forcing the river into a canal-type bed with embankments. This regulation made a negative impact on the flow velocity of the river, on its temperature balance, and increased the risk of flooding. The goal of the recent development was to restore the river's natural character on an 8-kilometre-long section of the river and to create a semi-natural riverside. (Reference 1, 2) This was considered especially important because the effects of climate change have already increased the frequency of heavy rain events and major floods. (Reference 3) The new concept leaves space for the river to shape and change its bed with every flood. Further aims of the project were to increase biodiversity and recreational quality.

The Côtes site is a natural space of 1300 hectares surrounded by the urban area of the Clermont-Ferrand area, between the cities of Clermont-Ferrand, Durtol, Nohanent, Blanzat and Cébazat. (Ref. 1). Its fragile biodiversity has required special attention from the city with several actions being taken to protect it from growing urbanization. Part of the site is a Natura 2000 area and the Clermont part of the overall site is designated a sensitive natural environment (ENS). A management plan was developed for the ENS and put in place for the years 2019-2024 (Ref. 12).

The Petuelpark is an approximately a 7,4-hectare large park in the north of Munich, situated on a section of the Petuelring between Belgradstrasse and Leopoldstrasse and partly over the Petueltunnel. The park was created as part of the complex transportation development project that aimed to reduce above-ground traffic with the help of the tunnel and improving the quality of life in the area with the help of green development. The park was also aimed at creating a space for recreation: several playgrounds, a water playground, a fountain, a café and several artworks can be found there. (Reference 1) The park also includes the “Generation garden” which is designed to serve as a meeting place, and a place for gardening, as garden beds have been laid out in the garden for free use by the residents. (Reference 3) The elevated parts that situate above the tunnel are implemented as extensive grassy areas, while the other parts are dominated by thematic gardens and the Nymphenburg-Biedersteiner canal (Reference 3).

The municipality initiated to realize a healthy and climate-proof 'city island' which includes a large variety of projects, including the City Island Park Tour, which is a cycling/walking tour around the island that includes multiple green-blue infrastructure elements along two canals. Together it can be recognized as a large city park (ref. 2, 6). The tour contains the sights of green banks, recreation possibilities, bridges and boulevard-ways, thereby promoting environmental quality, mobility and attractiveness of the area (ref. 6). A food park at Leeuwensteyn is envisioned for 2050 (ref. 7).

The Friargate is a major regeneration project that covers 37 acres around Coventry train station. This includes enhancing the Greyfriars Green (the only green space in the city), the development of Station Square Boulevard (a new tree-lined public realm), and a number of green belt sites around the city. (Ref. 3) The Friargate is expected to vastly improve the area’s public spaces and create new jobs (Ref. 1).

As part of the “Landscape Park Rhine”, a key project of the Karlsruhe Master Plan 2015, the city of Karlsruhe implemented the “Park Maxau” project module, which is the most important element of the larger landscape project. (Ref. 3) The “Park Maxau” is a park within an agricultural area which with its new leaseholders, has mostly been converted into ecological agricultural fields and grazing areas. (Ref. 3) Major goals were linking green corridors with the Pamina Rhine park, creating a connected recreational area and enhancing ecological diversity. The “Rhine Promenade” pedestrian route, Rhine terraces and a children’s playground were created, a visitor guidance system was introduced, and an estate was revived as a restaurant. During the 17-month development process, citizens were given the opportunity to offer their ideas and suggestions about the project through internet surveys, interviews and a citizens' conference. (Ref. 6) The area has become a hotspot for ecological agriculture, environmental education and recreation (Ref. 10).

The oasis is one of the favourite destinations especially by naturalist photographers of the region, thanks to the presence of numerous animal and plant species. The oasis covers an area of about 20 hectares, is part of a SIC and ZPS area of 40 hectares and its management has been entrusted to the Noale WWF Cave Oasis Committee. It used to be a clay extraction area that got abandoned for several years. It was restored to create a new wild habitat that the local government declared a protected area (1, 2 and 4).