Health and well-being (SDG 3)

This NBS is part of a building complex which includes also a mall. The PALAS urbanization complex, developed by IULIUS in Iasi, introduces the "lifestyle center" concept in the "mixed-use developments" market in Romania. Designed as a large urban, economic, social and cultural development project, PALAS contributes to the development of Iaşi by attracting foreign investors and repositioning the capital of Moldova in the national and international tourist circuit, bringing also new concepts to the Romanian business market. More than being a public garden, this green space is viewed as an endowment to the development of the city (1)

The Bizardin is the community garden of Hellemmes, created by the association AJOnc (Amis des Jardins Ouverts et néanmoins clôturés) on the initiative of a group of inhabitants. Managed by the locals, it gives life to the neighborhood where children like to play, watch insects, sow radishes, watch for frogs. A living garden where wild and cultivated plants come together and create a floristic richness often unsuspected by the simple passer-by, a result of many years of work. It is also an ideal place to observe as insects and birds swarm. (Ref 1)

The Toulouse based project Green My City is a community collective focused on promoting sustainable consumption and creating a sustainable environment, (Ref. 2) It anticipates constructing thousands of square meters of organic vegetable gardens on the roofs of the city of Toulouse, saving 50 tons of CO2 emissions per year. The project defines itself as a prospective tool, which intervenes in the stream of gardening initiatives: it maps, selects, and then accompanies the initiatives (Ref. 1). The project supports the realisation of environmental initiatives by engaging citizens, communities, businesses and designers to help create an urban oasis (Ref. 23).

The river Emscher is the symbol of one of the internationally most renowned industrial regions: the Ruhr area with its 5 million inhabitants and an important location of key industries such as steel, chemical, and materials industry. The revitalisation of the Emscher over the last 20 years marks a new phase in the region‘s history and is an impressive example of ecological and socio-economic transformation affecting all aspects of life along the river (Ref. 1).

Maritza Gardens is a residential complex with an abundant park environment along the north bank of the Maritza River. The inner part is a 5000 sq.m. park with luxuriant vegetation and facilities for recreation. The purpose of the complex is to allow residents to successfully combine city life with well-being. (Ref. 1; Ref. 2).

The garden is located on the territory of the social welfare home 'Helclów' in Kraków under the protection of a regional monument conservator. It is supposed to integrate the residents of various age and support physical rehabilitation and leisure with elements of garden therapy. Its main goal is to integrate the elderly from the social welfare home with other citizens through joint activities, such as flowers and herbs planting and caretaking. The initiative involves planting greenery (including 314 trees and 134 square meters of shrubs between 2010 and 2016), setting a grill area, and renovating the infrastructure for the disabled. The garden is supposed to serve as an offset for harmful developments in other parts of the city. Private investors are often obliged to provide resources for new trees in the garden’s natural wall and a noise and pollution barrier. The park is publicly accessible between 9 AM and 6 PM and is available for the organization of events and meetings. The concept to open the previously closed garden to the public was initiated an application for a participatory budget in 2016 and very much supported by all parties involved [1,2,3].

In 2013, local activists came up with an initiative to plant 100 trees and 100 bushes in different parts of the District XIII in Kraków. It was supposed to be financed by the participatory budget of Kraków. Still, the delay in implementation led to a situation when the second project by the same team (plant 101 trees and 101 bushes) overlapped with the previous one the following year. The city implemented the original idea, and the district received 100 trees and 101 bushes in 2015. The project aimed to increase the aesthetic and decorative value of the area and to increase the comfort of living of its inhabitants, as well to obtain funds for urban greenery management [1,3].

Together with the Office for Urban Greenery and Waters of the City of Leipzig, the charitable association Ökolöwe Leipzig started the green facades initiative "Kletterfix - Green Walls for Leipzig" in 2015. The project aims at creating awareness about the multiple benefits of urban green walls and inspiring action of tenants and landlords on private property. As a measure mandated by the Urban Clean Air Plan, green facades improve the urban microclimate, general living conditions and combat particulate matter pollution. On-site advice about suitable plants and maintenance is provided upon application and respective seeds for up to 5 plants are sent for free to the applicants by the city department (1, 3, 7).

EPAEM (Euromediterranean public development establishment) launched the development a new park of 14 hectares. Located in former industrial area at the gates of the northern districts of Marseille, it is considered to be one of the poorest districts in France (Ref. 1). The planned park Aygalades is divided into two parts: the southern part of 4 hectares called Bougainville Park and the northern part of 10 hectares which runs along the Aygalades river (Ref. 1). Development work on Bougainville Park is set to begin in September 2020 with completion in 2023 (Ref. 12). The park is described as "the first step of a large project to restore a highly degraded industrial site" (Ref. 12).

The park was completely renovated by planting trees, shrubs, flowers, and by renovating existing grey elements and adding new ones. The project was implemented as part of the programme for Improvement of the Ecological and Recreational environment of Plovdiv, which was funded by the ERDF through the national Operational Programme “Regional Development” 2007-2013 (Ref. 1; Ref. 2; Ref. 3; Ref. 6).