Air pollution, high temperatures and noise affect the quality of life of local residents. Green spaces can mitigate the impact of these phenomena, among other things, by improving air quality and reducing the urban heat effect. The UrbanLungs project combines the regeneration of parks and other green spaces in Poland and Ukraine with environmental monitoring and research, which will make it possible to assess local conditions and better plan the development of green infrastructure.
The project activities will cover four locations: St. Tatiana Park and the University grounds in Uzhhorod, as well as the palace and park complexes in Pawłosiów and Wysocko. Planned activities include tree maintenance, new tree and plant planting, the renovation of pathways and park infrastructure, and the development of new green spaces. All interventions will take into account the needs of people with disabilities, as well as the natural and historical character of the sites.
Air quality, temperature and noise measurements will be carried out in selected parks. The results will provide the basis for developing reports and concepts for green space development incorporating Nature-based Solutions (NbS). The recommendations will cover, among other things, the selection of climate-resilient plant species, biodiversity conservation and sustainable rainwater management.
The project will also engage school pupils, university students and experts from both countries through summer schools, workshops and meetings dedicated to environmental protection and green space planning. In addition, a Polish-Ukrainian competition will contribute to enriching the parks with sculptures inspired by the relationship between humans and nature. The solutions developed within the project will also be available for use by other local authorities, supporting the development of green spaces that are better adapted to residents’ needs and the challenges posed by climate change.