Upgrading city’s green infrastructure through improved spatial planning and financing

By project PERFECT

Published on 30 August 2022

Slovenia

Zahodna Slovenija

Ljubljana

About this good practice

In Ljubljana urban region green infrastructure was under immense pressure during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since most of public life was shut down, residents visited green areas more frequently. Being the most densely populated in LUR, the City of Ljubljana detected the most issues.

City authorities addressed these issues on two levels, by changing spatial plans and by providing additional funding for the renovation of existing infrastructure in parks.
The aim of improved spatial plans is to ensure the appropriate distribution, scope, and connections through planning to offer all residents equal connections to green open space on the municipal, district, and local level. The city’s spatial plans will be improved gradually and in the long term.

The pandemic highlighted that part of the existing infrastructure in parks needs renovation and new green and sports areas should be built. The City of Ljubljana responded by providing supplementary funds in its 2021/2022 budget to support the renovation of the existing infrastructure and to assure implementation of additional. In 2021 a Multigenerational playground in Kašelj. Ljubljana was built.

Resources needed

The multigenerational playground consists of various sports structures and a trim island. It enables quality leisure and well-being time for both children and the elderly. The value of the playground’s implementation amount to 96,000 EUR without VAT.

Evidence of success

During the lockdowns, residents used open public areas for sports, recreation, and picnics more frequently. The number of citizens' initiatives for arranging new, local, publicly accessible green and recreational areas significantly increased. The city of Ljubljana responded promptly and unlocked the funding to provide additional means within the next year.

Potential for learning or transfer

The municipality of Ljubljana plans to renovate five to seven playgrounds in 2022/2023. They will be selected based on the needs and initiatives of citizens, the municipal spatial plan, the ownership and purpose of land and financial frameworks.
Planning of the City of Ljubljana serves as a great example of participatory planning since citizens’ initiatives are considered to the highest possible extent as was shown with this specific case.