Ecological parking spaces - Timişoara

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The Municipality of Timisoara (Romania) initiated efforts to create ecological parking spaces in 2009 as a tool to reduce storm-water runoff and pollutant emissions. These parking spaces encompass a number of techniques applied to reduce the total impervious surface of a parking space, a decrease in the surface temperature and the creation of a green island in urban areas. Most of these are located near building blocks in former industrial quarters. Specific objectives were to improve air and water quality; ensure maximum parking space; minimize the volume of water drained and reduce the leaking of water from precipitation; achieve a green area space; reduce the human heat islands; avoid environmental pollution due to vehicle emissions; and to reduce the exposure to UV radiation, due to the canopy of trees.

Overview

Type of instrument:

Legislative, regulatory and strategic instruments›Overarching/cross-sectoral strategy, plan, or law

Challenges addressed

Green space management (e.g. accessibility)
Watershed restoration/water quality
Flood risk: pluvial and fluvial / soil permeability
Heat stress and heat island effect
Air quality

Consideration of nature-based solutions:

Nature-based solutions were employed by planting vegetation in the lattices of the permeable pavement used for the parking spaces which allows for water infiltration, and by planting trees around the area. Grid or lattice systems where rigid plastic structures are filled with gravel or vegetation were also used, as well as porous concrete in which fine materials have been removed, allowing the infiltration of rain water through the voids.

Targeted (peri-)urban areas:

Urban green space connected to grey infrastructure

Good practice characteristics:

Effective

Potential to be replicated / upscaled

Governance

Government body/bodies

Initiating body:

City of Timişoara City Council

Instrument design:

Details about how the instrument was designed:

The municipality played the main role in the implementation of this measure since it noticed that there were areas around specific building blocks that were not taken care off and with precipitation turned quickly into mud.

Involvement of non-governmental actors:

Private sector, corporate, business

Citizens or community groups / NGOs

Type of actor involvement:

Civil society consultation through e.g. workshops, surveys

Instrument implementation:

Type of involvement:

Citizens could participate in the implementation of the measure through tree planting around the parking spaces.

Type of non-governmental actors involved:

Implementation of NBS (e.g. with government funds)

Targeted actors:

Public sector institution (e.g. school or hospital)

Citizens or community groups (CBOs), NGOs

Financing

Presupuesto de la UE

Budget:

500 000 € - 1 000 000€

Details about instrument financing:

The funding was provided partly by the EU and partly by the local municipality.

Monitoring, evaluation and impacts

Achieved outcomes and impacts:

Environmental impacts include the improved water and blue area management, an increased protection against flooding, the creation of a green space and habitat and increased green space area in general. The newly created green space also reduces the human heat island effect. Economic impacts include the reduced financial cost for urban management by eliminating the problems of muddy terrain around building blocks after precipitation.

Success factors and lessons learned:

The ecologic parking spaces are an effective and relatively low-threshhold measure that combines ecologic interests (green space, water management, heat islands) with urban planning interests. As it is in the interest of the municipality and local residenst alike to avoid muddy areas around building blocks and to provide parking space, the implementation of an environmental-friendly measure employing nature-based solutions was an attractive solution.

Sources and further information

References

List of references:

Urban Nature Atlas (2021). Ecological parking spaces. Available at: https://una.city/nbs/timisoara/ecological-parking-spaces

Primaria Municipiului Timisoara, Directia de Mediu (2009), Parcari Ecologice.

Primaria Municipiului Timisoara (2008), Parcari Ecologice.

Photos

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