Reconnecting with nature
A Green Oasis in the Heart of Zviahel
A Green Oasis in the Heart of Zviahel (Creating Urban, Inclusive and Smart – Lighting Spaces)
Many people in Ukraine believe that the development of parks as places of social communication is out of date. I have quite another idea because of many reasons. Despite the extremely difficult challenges facing our country and our community in particular because of war, we continue to develop, strive for a new and better life.
Creating urban spaces as public locations for social interaction and renewal is a great task and areal challenge for our community.
Creating urban spaces as public locations for social interaction and renewal is a great task and areal challenge for our community.
Ukraine
Local
The city of Zviahel
Mainly urban
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
Early concept
No
No
As an individual
Citizens of the community, who suffer from war, need places for rest, renewal, social interaction. Looking for ways of solving such a problem was the topic of the first Public Assemblies in Ukraine which was held in Zviahel community.
The most popular place for it in the community is the central local park. It has favorable location, good transport connection with all parts of the town, and villages of the community.
Recently, the park has been losing its popularity due to its condition. The park has not been renovated for a long time. Its current condition does not meet the needs of the residents.
As the total cost of the park's reconstruction is large, it’s possible to start reconstructing its part, the northern one for example.
While working at the project we are to take into consideration the main rules of urban planning as reconnection with nature, regaining a sense of belonging, prioritizing the places and people that need it the most, the need for long - term, life cycle thinking in the industrial ecosystem, we will succeed.
The overall aim of this territory: creating urban spaces as public locations for social interaction and renewal.
Target groups: citizens of the community of different ages, social status, war veterans, disabled people, refugees.
The specific objectives of the project are following:
- to reconstruct the system of park lighting, using the newest smart technologies
- to organize some places for spending time in the central park (gazebos, park benches and other architectural forms)
- to reconstruct some park paths
Achieved outcomes:
- the northern part of the local central park gained the characteristics of a modern urban space with smart lighting, park paths, gazebos, park benches
- it became an inclusive space for all and everybody
- the new life was brought into forgotten space
- the part of the local park became a popular space for rest, communication, strengthening social links
The most popular place for it in the community is the central local park. It has favorable location, good transport connection with all parts of the town, and villages of the community.
Recently, the park has been losing its popularity due to its condition. The park has not been renovated for a long time. Its current condition does not meet the needs of the residents.
As the total cost of the park's reconstruction is large, it’s possible to start reconstructing its part, the northern one for example.
While working at the project we are to take into consideration the main rules of urban planning as reconnection with nature, regaining a sense of belonging, prioritizing the places and people that need it the most, the need for long - term, life cycle thinking in the industrial ecosystem, we will succeed.
The overall aim of this territory: creating urban spaces as public locations for social interaction and renewal.
Target groups: citizens of the community of different ages, social status, war veterans, disabled people, refugees.
The specific objectives of the project are following:
- to reconstruct the system of park lighting, using the newest smart technologies
- to organize some places for spending time in the central park (gazebos, park benches and other architectural forms)
- to reconstruct some park paths
Achieved outcomes:
- the northern part of the local central park gained the characteristics of a modern urban space with smart lighting, park paths, gazebos, park benches
- it became an inclusive space for all and everybody
- the new life was brought into forgotten space
- the part of the local park became a popular space for rest, communication, strengthening social links
Urban
Inclusive
Smart - lighting
Ecological
Open Space
The key objectives of the project in terms of sustainability are following:
- to implement the recommendations of the first Public Assemblies in Zhviahel Community
- various stakeholders will be involved in the project: Сity Сouncil, Housing and communal services and energy saving department of City Council, NGOs, active members of community
- the Action Plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the Public Assembly in the Zviahel community on the topic: "Creating urban spaces as public locations for social interaction and renewal" was approved at the City Council session in December 2024
- the popularity of this part of the park will become the first but very important step to further development of the central local park and other places in the community
- to implement the recommendations of the first Public Assemblies in Zhviahel Community
- various stakeholders will be involved in the project: Сity Сouncil, Housing and communal services and energy saving department of City Council, NGOs, active members of community
- the Action Plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the Public Assembly in the Zviahel community on the topic: "Creating urban spaces as public locations for social interaction and renewal" was approved at the City Council session in December 2024
- the popularity of this part of the park will become the first but very important step to further development of the central local park and other places in the community
The key objectives of the project in terms of aesthetics are also very important because the project concerns a local park – a green area just in the centre of the town. Since autumn 2024 consultations are being held with a landscape designer - urbanist with the aim to use innovative urban planning, bring new ideas. The park must be the place which demonstrates quality of life in the community: attractive, convenient, multifunctional and benefits everyone. Community involvement is the important part of the project from the very beginning to the end of the project. A group of stakeholders was formed after Citizens Assemblies. They actively participate in the processes.
Creating an inclusive, accessible and safe zone that will promote social integration, improve mental and physical health and general well-being of all community residents and low-mobility groups is one of the main objectives of the project. The community is home to over 2,000 adults with disabilities, 292 children with disabilities, and 65 war veterans with disabilities. Increasing community cohesion through joint project implementation and motivation will serve as an example for other communities.
It is planned to install ramps at two entrances to the park from the street side, repair the paths in this part of the park to make their surface flat for convenient movement of people in wheelchairs or crutches, as well as with baby strollers.
It is planned to install several benches in special "pockets" with hard surface and space for at least one person in a wheelchair or for a baby stroller. In this part of the park, it is planned to install a gazebo, where park visitors, including those with special needs, can take shelter from sudden hail or hot sun.
It is planned to install ramps at two entrances to the park from the street side, repair the paths in this part of the park to make their surface flat for convenient movement of people in wheelchairs or crutches, as well as with baby strollers.
It is planned to install several benches in special "pockets" with hard surface and space for at least one person in a wheelchair or for a baby stroller. In this part of the park, it is planned to install a gazebo, where park visitors, including those with special needs, can take shelter from sudden hail or hot sun.
After the Citizens Assemblies, the most active participant created an initiative group to participate in the development of the Action Plan for the implementation of the recommendations of the Citizens Assemblies in the Zviahel community on the topic "Creating urban spaces as public locations for social interaction and renewal." Creating inclusive spaces for social interaction was one of the topics of discussion at the Assemblies, where attendees received professional recommendations.
These recommendations were included in the Action Plan. The participants of the initiative group created a Viber - group, actively communicate in it with each other and with representatives of local authorities regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Public Assembly.
At the end of March 2025, a number of events are planned to be held aimed at improving the areas of potential recreation areas in different parts of the city: cleaning, planting trees, etc. with the participation of group members and representatives of youth organizations.
Group members will be involved in the implementation of the project in the northern part of the city's central park: discussing project ideas, monitoring the progress of work, searching for additional sources of funding if necessary, and making physical contributions.
These recommendations were included in the Action Plan. The participants of the initiative group created a Viber - group, actively communicate in it with each other and with representatives of local authorities regarding the implementation of the recommendations of the Public Assembly.
At the end of March 2025, a number of events are planned to be held aimed at improving the areas of potential recreation areas in different parts of the city: cleaning, planting trees, etc. with the participation of group members and representatives of youth organizations.
Group members will be involved in the implementation of the project in the northern part of the city's central park: discussing project ideas, monitoring the progress of work, searching for additional sources of funding if necessary, and making physical contributions.
It’s really so that different stakeholders at various levels were engaged in the design of the project. As concern national level, the experts in the field of urbanism, urban planning, landscape design, and the creation of inclusive spaces from various cities of Ukraine participated in the sessions of the Public Assembly as speakers and experts. The initiative of the project continues to contact with most of them and plans to do it during the project implementation.
Local experts from the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of the City Council are actively involved in the development of the project.
Local experts from the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning of the City Council are actively involved in the development of the project.
During the work on the project, knowledge of
- urban planning,
- landscape design,
- social relations,
- ecology,
- energy efficiency,
- inclusion
is being used and will continue to be used.
- Most representatives of these fields of knowledge (social relations, ecology, energy efficiency, inclusion participated in Citizens Assembly and continue to work at the project now. As concern the representatives in the fields of urban planning, landscape design they also will be involved in the process. Just at the moment we communicate with analytical centre Cedos which can help us to involve specialists. Besides the experts who participated in Citizens Assembly have already started to consult our team.
- urban planning,
- landscape design,
- social relations,
- ecology,
- energy efficiency,
- inclusion
is being used and will continue to be used.
- Most representatives of these fields of knowledge (social relations, ecology, energy efficiency, inclusion participated in Citizens Assembly and continue to work at the project now. As concern the representatives in the fields of urban planning, landscape design they also will be involved in the process. Just at the moment we communicate with analytical centre Cedos which can help us to involve specialists. Besides the experts who participated in Citizens Assembly have already started to consult our team.
The innovative nature of the project lies in two spheres. The first one is the methods of involvement of community citizens in decision making processes through their participation in Citizens Assembly and their further involvement in the processes of realization of Assembly decisions. The second sphere of the innovative nature of the project is the usage of urban and inclusive approaches to create such a space in the community. They are quite new approaches not only for our community but for Ukraine in general.
The innovative approach to creating an inclusive space for social interaction in a city park is based on
- research of the best practices in Ukraine,
- consultations with expertss in creating such spaces,
- consultations with potential users (people with disabilities, war veterans, mothers with little children, refugees etc.),
- close cooperation with local governments,
- close cooperation with local business that may be interested in the project
- research of the best practices in Ukraine,
- consultations with expertss in creating such spaces,
- consultations with potential users (people with disabilities, war veterans, mothers with little children, refugees etc.),
- close cooperation with local governments,
- close cooperation with local business that may be interested in the project
The experience gained during the preparation and implementation of the project can be transformed to other locations both in the Zviahel territorial community and in other communities. The most valuable thing we can share is the ways how to involve community residents in solving local problems as we, the members of the project team, were the first in Ukraine to gain experience in organizing and conducting Citizens Assemblies as a stakeholder, a member of the organizing team, and a member of the observer group. Besides we started to cooperate with the public organization of war veterans, refugees’ interaction committee, people with disabilities who actively participate in the life of our community. This experience can also be transformed.
Providing local solutions of the project can be addressed to such global challenges and global aims of sustainable development as:
- ecological (energy saving, preserving and increasing biodiversity in the face of climate change )
- inclusion
- sustainable cities and communities
- ecological (energy saving, preserving and increasing biodiversity in the face of climate change )
- inclusion
- sustainable cities and communities
The development of the project concept began at the end of 2024, immediately after the СA. Several initiative groups were formed from the Assembly participants. The group we represent now began developing a concept as concern the first possible steps of the reconstruction of the central city park, taking into account the financial and physical capabilities of the community and the initiators. Or group presented the concept at the city council session and received approval and the possibility of financing from the local budget, but after the end of the war. It is very important to develop the project today. An action plan has been developed, the implementation of which our group is working on now. The city park has been divided into four sectors, each of which will have its own thematic reconstruction concept. Currently, our group is working on the concept of reconstruction of the northern part of the park. The first works were started in January 2025 and are continuing now. If financially supported, the project will be completed by August 1, 2025.
