Date of label : 29/10/2024
Group of people cultivating vegetable gardens
Summary
The We Create Space programme gives active people opportunity to implement their own projects in urban public space in Ostrava (CZ), in order to revitalise and improve their surroundings and to take co-responsibility for a piece of the city. An essential part of the projects is an active voluntary involvement of the community within preparation, implementation and maintenance of the project. In this way, the programme supports community life as the place of action becomes a natural meeting point, strengthens neighbourhood relations, comes alive and looks attractive. Citizens tend to maintain the space and spend time there usually longer than the mandatory two-year sustainability period. We Create Space gives citizens chance to be a part of decision-making process.
The solutions offered by the Good Practice
The City of Ostrava launched the We Create Space programme to achieve the strategic goals of the Ostrava City Strategic Development Plan to promote community life and involve citizens in the development of the city. The programme was created with experts' and citizens’ input, to empower citizens to take co-responsibility for a part of the city. It has been slightly modified over the years, to reflect experience and feedback.
Programme proposals are assessed by a six-member expert committee, in three rounds to provide feedback so that applicants can improve their projects. Successful projects include community gardens, children's playgrounds and picnic areas. Experience has shown that smaller projects with lower funding have resulted in stronger community involvement, so the focus is shifting to support these.
Building on the sustainable and integrated urban approach
Ostrava has considerable experience of citizen participation, with over 20 000 citizens contributing to the creation of the Strategic Development Plan, as recognised through an URBACT Good Practice Award and an Award from the Office of the Government of the Czech Republic.
The We Create Space programme represents the next step to involve citizens in the creation of their city, by enabling them to implement their own ideas in public spaces with city funding. Residents can present their ideas, but can also help build the project with their own hands, fostering a sense of community ownership.
Social and cultural activities help revitalise these public spaces, whose success is also assessed on their blue-green infrastructure. Most applicants plant greenery, some capture water for irrigation, creating small islands for nature in the city, to the benefit of citizens and wildlife.
This low-cost and easily-transferable model of sustainable urban development educates people about government processes and gives them the competence to oversee public resources. Community involvement builds a shared sense of responsibility, enhances long-term sustainability, and reduces maintenance costs to the benefit of the whole city.
Based on participatory approach
Active and voluntary public involvement at all phases, from preparation to ongoing sustainability, is key to the success of the We Create Space programme. From the start, an expert committee advises on project development, but the final design and implementation is always up to the applicant.
This approach delivers high-quality projects, with citizens creating vibrant urban communities despite having little knowledge of architecture, urban planning, or ecology, thanks to the expert committee’s support.
The city team meet citizens face-to-face to explain the grant process, discuss their ideas, and help them with administration. This is vital as most applicants lack experience of grant applications or project management. In this way, the city educates residents and demonstrates their trust in them.
What difference has it made?
The We Create Space programme empowers local communities to participate in the development of their city. People’s input is shaping new green spaces that encourage social activities, to the benefit of both residents and the environment, making city life more pleasant and lively.
This practice supports communities and reduces negative social phenomena, thanks to projects that build social cohesion and help overcome prejudice by uniting genders, generations and minorities.
Open communication and the city's trust in citizens to manage public funds breaks down barriers between residents and the municipality. Moreover, applicants gain skills in handling public finances and in project management, fostering better mutual understanding.
Why this Good Practice should be transferred to other cities
The We Create Space practice is transferable to any European city, at relatively low cost. It offers an inspiring example of a collaborative initiative that enables local communities to takeover co-responsibility for public green spaces, with social and environmental benefits.
The practice aligns with the Urban Agenda for the EU, particularly its ‘Greening Cities’ goals. It was also one of the 300 good practices listed in the EU Living Spaces catalogue. We Create Space won a special award in the national Smart Cities 2022 competition, and achieved second place in the Best Practice in Czech Republic 2023. There is no similar programme in Czechia.
A delegation from the Turkish city of Gaziantep visited Ostrava to see the community projects realised within the grant programme.
A number of success factors were identified:
- Allocation of grants to specific areas in the city, and then trust citizens living in those areas to use the funds to reshape that part of city using their own ideas.
- Sufficient personnel capacity (officials, expert committee members) to help applicants throughout the process.
- Strong political support and available budget.
- Judicious selection of localities to focus on, paying attention not only to city centre public spaces but areas outside the centre.
- Focus promotion where it is most effective, and meet with citizens in person.