News from our cities and networks – 10 September 2021

The URBACT III Programme promotes sustainable, integrated urban development, supporting exchange and learning between EU towns and cities. Ongoing activities include 23 Action Planning Networks (2019-2022), five networks transferring urban solutions from UIA projects, and a network on localising the Sustainable Development Goals.

Building on the success of 23 recently completed Transfer Networks (TNs), Lead Partners are now transferring their good practices to a ‘second wave’ of 27 more cities. Meanwhile, five National Practice Transfer Initiatives are helping cities new to URBACT III to learn from an URBACT city in their own country.

Farming the fringe

Discover the NextAgri UIA-URBACT Transfer Mechanism pilot network! To boost business development and innovation in peri-urban agriculture, Milan’s (IT) OpenAgri UIA project brought together diverse partners in the ‘urban fringe’ where the city and farmland meet. Three cities will now learn from Milan to improve their own policies.

Urban garden of the future

With Denmark allowing more upcycling of construction materials, the URGE network, on circular economy in the construction sector, looks to Copenhagen (DK) for inspiration. The city engaged with citizens and re-purposed materials to create beautiful urban spaces with Sustainable Urban Drainage Systems (SUDS) to handle heavy rain.

Meanwhile, URGE’s report on building circularity calls for better cooperation between researchers, designers, architects and constructors. Special focus on Copenhagen’s re-use of old wood, plastic bottles, bricks and concrete, in new buildings.

Natural playgrounds

‘Mud kitchens’, tree trunks for climbing, sand, water, leafy branches for shade… Poznań (PL), partner in the Health&Greenspace network is building natural playgrounds for the city’s children, replacing synthetic surfaces and games with earth, sand, grass and wood.

Summer memories: Tartu’s Car-free Avenue

See how Tartu, Estonian partner in the Zero Carbon Cities network, temporarily transformed a four-lane highway into a vibrant pedestrian area with games, paddling pool, art, concerts – and riverfront cafes. A friendly guided tour with organisers from Tartu City Government.

Read our new publication for more stories from cities understanding, adapting and re-using URBACT Good Practices: Good Practice Transfer – Why not in my City?

We hope you enjoy this URBACT city news round-up. Looking forward to the next one in two weeks’ time. If you have any news to share from URBACT cities, or ideas for more stories on sustainable urban development, get in touch!