Networks and cities' news

Catch up on the latest updates from cities working together in URBACT Networks. The articles and news that are showcased below are published directly by URBACT’s beneficiaries and do not necessarily reflect the programme’s position.

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  • Testing of public grounds in Lehza

    The Municipality of Lezha - within the framework of the Re - Gen project and the National Youth Day - started the first testing of sports activities on public spaces that can be turned into outdoor and indoor sports fields.

     

    During this day, children and youth from different schools in Lezha were engaged in various sports games such as ping-pong, volleyball, basketball, sports dance and chess.

     

    At this stage of the project, the Municipality of Lezha aims to empower youth through sports activities, improving infrastructure and sports clubs, and encouraging active participation of youth in decision-making processes.

     

    One of the goals of the project is to create opportunities for talent development and encourage youth engagement in positive activities, strengthening ties between the community and the local institution.
     

    Municipality of Lezha, Albania.

     

     

    Desiree Zucchi

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  • Sportsgrounds of the Future: How Cities Are Rethinking Public Space for Adolescents' Wellbeing

    Urban spaces often reveal the character of a city. They are places of movement, stillness, interaction, and solitude. For adolescents, however, public spaces are much more than physical environments—they are stages for self-expression, arenas for competition, and places for belonging. Yet, in many cities, these vital spaces remain underused or inaccessible to youth, either by design or neglect.

     

    Adolescence is a transformative stage of life, marked by the search for identity, independence, and social belonging. Cities play a critical role in shaping these experiences; however, too often, urban environments fail to cater to the specific needs of young people. Thoughtfully designed public spaces can become vital arenas where adolescents gather, express themselves, and connect with their communities. However, these spaces must be more than functional; they must resonate with the energy and aspirations of youth.

     

    The Re-Gen network of cities—spanning from Southern Europe to the Baltic—has embraced this challenge. Each city has embarked on a distinctive journey to test how sports and recreational activities can rejuvenate public spaces and empower adolescents. These cities are experimenting with bold solutions to make public spaces more inviting for their youngest residents, involving them in the process. The key? Sports and recreation, woven seamlessly into the urban fabric.

    rlioce

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  • Teenagers and the City: How Youth Shape Public Spaces through Creativity, Sports, and Social Connection

    Public spaces hold a unique value for teenagers, offering a stage for recreation, cultural expression, and social interaction. Across various studies, these spaces have been shown to play a significant role in the mental, social, and physical development of adolescents. Teenagers often engage with public areas like parks, squares, and even neglected or abandoned spaces in ways that differ from adults, repurposing them as places to express their identity, engage in physical activities, and cultivate peer relationships. This article explores how teenagers use these spaces, how they shape urban aesthetics, and why policymakers need to adopt a more passive approach to observing their behaviors.

    rlioce

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  • Street Sport and Tourism: A Path to Urban Regeneration and Youth-Centered Travel

    Street sports such as skateboarding, 3x3 basketball, breakdancing, and rollerblading are increasingly becoming a driving force for urban regeneration. These activities are transforming underutilized urban spaces into vibrant social and cultural hubs, fostering local community engagement and attracting a new kind of tourism. This fusion of street sport and tourism is creating unexpected tourist flows to lesser-known cities and "unusual places," places that would not typically be considered tourist hotspots.

    rlioce

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  • Ph. Luis Villasmil

    Sport Urbanism: A New Paradigm for Urban Regeneration and Sustainable, Beautiful Cities for All

    Sport urbanism is emerging as a powerful concept in the transformation of our cities. This approach advocates for integrating sports into urban design as a green, inclusive solution that enhances the beauty and functionality of public spaces. Sport-based solutions doesn't just make cities more attractive; they also turn public areas into vibrant hubs that promote well-being, public health, and environmental sustainability. By placing sports at the heart of urban regeneration, we can create spaces that are aesthetically pleasing and serve as collective spaces for communities, fostering social connections and improving the quality of life for all residents.

    rlioce

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  • verona article 1

    Can Urban Sports Hubs Transform Youths Communities and Regenerate Urban Public Spaces?

    Contemporary cities face challenges in providing adequate spaces for youth socialization and recreational healthy activities. The Re-Gen Project tackles these issues by leveraging abandoned public spaces for planning and testing innovative models for urban regeneration. Engaging youngsters, schools, cultural and sport associations in co-creating new Urban Sport Hubs redefines urban participative process, fosters sense of a shared responsibility for common goods and promotes multifunctional spaces. These hubs, centered on street sports, symbolize a progressive shift in policy towards inclusive community development and vibrant urban spaces reconnecting also aesthetics with ethics.

    rlioce

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