004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 29

J. of Ag. Eng. - Riv. di Ing. Agr. (2011), 1, 29-39

GREENWAY IN : EXAMPLES OF PROJECTS AND IMPLEMENTATION

Pasquale Dal Sasso, Maria Antonella Ottolino

1. Introduction and protect the cultural, historical and landscape her- itage [European Greenways Association 1999]. The huge territorial resources available, featuring A constant and unchanged characteristic in the def- environmental and landscape traits, and the sensitivity initions of greenway lies in any case in the presence towards their preservation and conservation, led to the of pre-existing linear pathways on the territory [Euro- origin and development of the “greenways” concept pean Greenways Association 1999]. in the United States [Ahern 1995; Fabos 1995; Turner For these reasons, which relate to the different 2001]. meanings that can be assumed and assigned, the Evolutions and research activities on the meaning greenways created and implemented these days often and definition of greenways have allowed solutions to feature a structure, each differentiated from the oth- be experimented with regards to the interrelation and ers, depending on their characteristics and on the arrangement of “networked” systems of “green functions they serve [Mennella 2006]. spaces” and infrastructural systems or natural linear Various differentiated greenways have been de- elements, to tackle issues encountered in the planning signed and created also in Italy. of “wide” areas and “open territories”, also involving The differences often derive from the use of green- territories belonging to more than one State [Fabos ways in territorial planning; indeed, the definition of 2004; Fabos and Ryan 2004]. greenway envisages a connection and relation among Expanding the idea of greenways to include land different values, entities, disciplines and subjects, thus planning also meets the current need to combine so- covering and interlinking different themes ranging cial and economic requirements with the amount of from those of a social, cultural and historical nature, human and natural resources available and present in to economic and territorial aspects. the territory, in a way to draw the most benefits with- Among the functions that may be served by green- out neglecting the possibility of valorisation and ways, there are also those connected with safeguarding growth of the special features and characteristics of the environment by structuring a series of intertwined the same territories. lines with an ecological, functional and infrastructural The application of the concept of greenway to the connotation, involving large areas or regions. territory and its interaction with the systems of “green As the strong “elements” of “open territories”, spaces” also allows us to tackle issues relating to the greenways may cover small portions of protected ar- control of urban growth, thus suggesting solutions eas as well as entire municipal plains of provincial that balance social needs with the needs pertaining to and regional territories. They may even extend to Eu- urban and extra-urban territories [Taylor 1995; Yoko- ropean networks, thus creating evident physical and hari 2006]. symbolic “marks” that enliven and characterise the In Europe, greenways tend to make use of pre-ex- territory as if fuelled by a desire to become independ- isting infrastructural systems serving as routes for ent entities, able to create… a functional network with slow traffic or as an educational tool to learn about the opportunity of connecting several entities (the nat- ural and cultural resources of the landscape) of vary- ing significance, at local, regional, national and Eu- ______ropean level, and pursuing multiple objectives by ex- Paper received 27.05.2010; accepted 17.11.2010 ploiting territorial characteristics and adjusting to

Prof. Ing. PASQUALE DAL SASSO, PhD OTTOLINO MARIA ANTONEL- the morphology of the places … [Rizzo 2004] LA: Department of Engineering and Management of the Agricultural This paper performs an analysis of interventions Systems, Livestock and Forest (PROGESA), University of Bari, via aimed at the creation of a greenway in Italy in order Amendola 165/A 70126 Bari (Italy). Email: [email protected], tel. 0039.0805442962 fax 0039.0805442955 to ensure its consistency with the definitions of ac- The paper is to be attributed to the authors in equal measure. credited organizations and associations. 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 30

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Fig. 1 - Example of a greenway in New England, Grafton Notch Landscape, (picture from A.T. Journeys, 32 July–August 2007).

2. Materials and methods the project) as opposed to the actual development, the plans and the operating procedure for their creation, The specific dedicated bibliography was consulted the procedures undertaken by the promoting bodies to to draw up this paper. Plans and projects were also ex- access the funds, the type (urban, extra urban, natura- amined, containing specific estimates of greenways, listic, or functional, recreational, educational, etc.) or in any case of alternative pathways (bike paths, and finally the main features of the intervention, its green roads, etc.), and several sites were regularly in- objectives and the purposes pursued (table of inter- spected. ventions). According to the method adopted, the official defi- nitions of greenway were compared with the green- ways and greenway “networks” examined across the 3. Results and discussion country. For the purposes of comparison the charac- teristics and aims attributed to specific implementa- The analysis and comparison of the data in the tions and projects were summarised. The data refer- table of interventions reveal that the early greenways ring to each examined intervention was summarised were set up between the end of the 20th century and in a table in order to be able to make immediate com- the early 21st century, in line with an increasing inter- parisons and considerations. est in environmental issues and the concept of sustain- The characteristics of the synthetic formulation of ability. greenways on the table may become a reference by Of the 41 interventions, 24 have been implement- institutions and associations for cataloguing or for ed, while 9 are in their start-up phase and 8 constitute verification of contents and intervention procedures. forecasts in the form of plans and specific projects. To analyse the state of the art, a summarising table An initial consideration that could be made, having was used, reporting the main characteristics of each examined the interventions, is that almost all of them intervention (defined as greenway or with similar derived from preliminary technical – scientific and so- wording, or those where the word greenway appears cial in-depth studies and, sometimes, from suitable in the project or as part of the objectives pursued), feasibility studies, thus confirming the importance/ with regards to the year of creation, the promoting need of providing technical-scientific support for the body, the potential linear development (according to proposal of interventions. 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 31

31 ” References Gira Livenza “ www.greenwaysitalia.it Association- Italian Greenways www.greenwaysitalia.it Municipality of Turin Map cycle routes Pilot project Project INTERREG III Italia-Austria http://www.tg0.it Association- Italian Greenways www.greenwaysitalia.it www.greenwaysitalia.it ectives j Creation Ob Characteristics Type and dimensions extra urban – Urban, suburban Extra-urban Urban Urban-suburban-extra-urban Suburban-extra-urban Extra-urban-suburban Extra-urban, naturalistic route Urban, suburban, -extra-urban Unused railway 50.5 Km Partial 25 Km; Along the banks of Po Total 16-18 Km Old route, trunk road and towpath 15 Km Naturalistic routes, hydraulic works, wharfs and landings, cycle routes Total 15 km Greenway and water ways 400 Km The way of naturalistic, food and wine tourism Total 400 Km Unused railway about 17 Km Unused railway (Treviso-Ostiglia 10 km with the recovery of steam train) and river towpath (Sile) 100 Km Itinerary of about 100 Km Unpaved route along the unused railway Rocchette-Asiago About 27 Km Unused railway 65 Km about 65 Km Equip and make accessible the naturalistic route in a park area, educational uses (2004); ” Associazione Italiana Associazione Italiana Associazione Italiana projects “ “ “ and State public railways and State public railways ” ” ” Inclusion in Plans and Varianti di Settore Proposed by Greenway and CO.MO.DO Plan for Cycling Itineraries of the Municipality of Turin Project- Gal Venezia Orientale with Leader plus community funding Projects financed by INTERREG III Italy-Austria Proposed by Greenway Environmental Plan (2000); “ Projects Gal Venezia Orientale Greenways association Italian; Confederation Sustainable Mobility (Co.Mo.Do);Federation parks; Italian tourist railways Proposed by Greenway ” Cortina- Dobbiaco; Tourist and naturalistic valorisation, cycle route – ” y Gira Livenza “ bod g Year Name osin Region p ” Pro Gira Sile “ Associazione Italiana Greenways “ Company for tourism in the Val di Fiemme Company for tourism in the Val di Municipality of Turin Municipalities of Torre di Mosto and Caorle, Provinces of Venezia, Treviso and Pordenone Regional board and Coldiretti Municipality of Trieste Regionale del Sile Province of Treviso, Ente Parco Naturale Asiago di Associazione Artigiani Proposed by Trentino Alto Adige Greenway unused railway Ora-Predazzo2003 Piemonte Greenway along the banks of Po river2004 Friuli Venezia Giulia - Veneto The greenway on the river Livenza and 2007 Giulia Friuli Venezia Pordenone Greenway 2000 Giulia Friuli Venezia Tourist valorisation Greenway unused railway of Val Rosandra (Trieste-Erpelle);2010 Veneto (Treviso) Functional valorisation for free time Greenway of Sile 2000-2004 Veneto Greenway unused railway Rocchette-Asiago2009 Greenway, cycle routes Veneto (Dolomiti) Greenway of the former railway Calalzo di Cadore 2003 Greenway Nr 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 32

32 References http://www.interreg-italia svizzera.it; Società ligure Area 24 Masterplan della valle Scrivia Masterplan valley del Polcevora cycle network Savona www.greenwaysitalia.it Associazione Italiana Greenways; Ambiente e Territorio June 2007 nr. 3 ectives j Creation Ob Characteristics Type and dimensions Extra-urban Urban-suburban Urban-suburban-extra urban Urban-suburban-extra-urban Urban-suburban-extra urban Urban-Extra urban Urban- suburban- extra-urban Unused railway 52 Km Tourist and naturalistic valorisation, steam train restoration; cycle route 52 Km unused railway 24 Km Greenway Greenway Stitch together a degraded urban fabric, ecological networks at local level Unused railway, coastal route, mountain route Cycle route, cycle link between the province of Savona and national European cycle net Unused railway 40 Km Partial 24 Km Martesana canal 35 Km projects Inclusion in Plans and Programma Interreg IIIA, Progetto Regionale Misura: 2.3-Integration and improvement of infrastructure and transport systems Proposed by Region and Province and "area 24" private company Project Poseidon (INTERREG III C) Masterplan-Valle Scrivia Partner europei (Amsterdam, la London Haringey, North Kent) Competition of ideas for the recovery of the ex- area steelworks- Master plan editing Proposal of Municipalities for a provincial network of cycle paths Proposed by “Associazione Italiana Greenway” Regional Landscape Territorial Plan y bod g Year Name osin Region p Pro Work Group constituted by Councillor's Office of the Lombardy Region Transportation, Province (Varese,Como), Helvetica Club of S. and Association railway Valmorea Regione Medway-, Stockholm, Vienna and Province of Municipalities the Scrivia valley Municipality of Genoa; soc. Cornigliano Province of Savona Municipality of Bergamo Lombardy regional board Italy-Switzerland Mendrisio (Svizzera) e Malnate Greenway of the railway Valmorea tract (Italia) 2001-2002 Liguria Greenway between San Lorenzo e Santo Stefano2008 Liguria Greenway tra monti e mare Poseidon in valle Scrivia2004-2006 Liguria Greenway Polcevora della valle del 1999-2007 Liguria Greenway dell’arco del ligure, Via dei Pellegrini,Via Pedemontana, Monti Mare,Via dei Development (environmental tourism ) of unused areas, cycle routes 2010 Lombardia Neighbourhood management- urban and social recovery of disadvantaged areas Greenway dell’ex ferrovia del Brembana2007 Lombardia Greenway del Naviglio della Martesana1999 Naturalistic valorisation of the route, cycle route Functional recovery for free time; cycle route Nr 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 33

33 References Associazione Italiana Greenway Ambiente Territorio June 2007 nr. 3 http://agenda21.comune.pv.it http://agenda21.comune.pv.it http://www.alternativaverde.it; Protocol of understanding among the provinces Associazione Italiana Greenway www.greenwaysitalia.it Greenways Associazione italiana http://www.valleolona.org ectives j Creation Ob Characteristics Type and dimensions 90 Km ” Tourism educational-recreational; naturalistic and agricultural area 90 Km

“ Canal 50 Km

Urban- suburban- extra-urban Urbana-extra urban, Green path between Certosa and the city of Pavia Urban-extra-urban-suburban Urban-suburban-extra-urban Urban-suburban-extra-urban Urban - extra-urban Urban - suburban Urban-suburban-extra urban Great Functional recovery for free time; cycle route about 20 Km Greenway 20 Km Functional itinerary for free time, environmental education and study of historic buildings Partial 20 - Total 40 Km Green route 120 Km Sustainable resource development Itinerary of 120 Km Greenway Compensation works for highway project Itinerary of Greenway 320 Km In project Unused railway 32 Km Partial 13 Km Greenway 10 Km Tourist revaluing of the lake Como Total 10 km Cycle routes Associate environmental protection with industrial economic development. projects Inclusion in Plans and Regional Landscape Territorial Plan Agenda Locale 21 - Pavia Programme for Sustainable Development Sponsored by the Fondazione del Monte Lombardia The company Pedemontana Lombarda, Politecnico di Milano (DIAP) - Environmental Impact Assessment Proposed by the Provinces of Brescia-Milano and Lecco Plan cycle network of valleys Single document of Objective Planning 2 (Strengthening and improvement of infrastructural equipment for sustainable development) Local Development Integrated Plan (PISL) y bod g Year Name osin Region p Municipality of Varzi Pro – – Lombardy regional board Councillor's Office for the Municipality of Pavia Environment and Sustainable Development Lombardy regional board Provinces of Bergamo and Varese, Soc. Pedemontana spa Provinces of Brescia; Milano; Lecco Municipality of Bergamo Lombardia Fondazione Banca Municipalities of Fagnano Olona at all. Lombardia Grande Greenway del Naviglio 1999 Lombardia Battaglia Greenway della 2000 Lombardia Greenway Milano-Pavia 2004 Lombardia Pedemontana Greenway della 2008 Lombardia Greenway percorsi tra Brescia-Milano-Lecco2008 Lombardia SerianaGreenway della ex ferrovia Val 2003 Lombardia Greenway del lago di Como 2002-2007 Lombardia Olona Greenway Medio 2003-2004 Cycle routes Extension of the Martesana greenway Functional valorisation for free time; cycle route Nr 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 34

34 - ” Desire, freedom and need “ References Associazione Italiana Greenway; Provincia di Modena www.greenwaysitalia.it www.greenwaysitalia.it www.parcoaddanord.it www.greenwaysitalia.it Bonifica Press Office of the Consorzio delle colline del Chianti XII intern. meeting www.greenwaysitalia.it Proposed laws by the Region for formation of a natural reserve along the coast Teatina. Protocol of understanding for the acquisition areas in creating a cultural landscape mosaic Cividale del Friuli (Ud), 25,26 October 2007 - University of Perugia ectives j Creation Ob Characteristics recreational for slow mobility Type and dimensions – cycle route , circa 12.5 Km projected –

21 Km

Urban-extra-urban Suburban, -extra-urban Suburban,-extra-urban Urban- suburban- extra-urban Urban-suburban-extra-urban Urban-extra urban Extra-urban/naturalistic Suburban- Extra-urban Greenway along the canal Muzza Greenway, cycle route 72 Km Route along the canal Adda Greenway 30 Km Unused railway 21 Km Total Unused railway urban centers and neighboroughs, safe mobility 40 Km Alzaia del Vingone 13 Km Project to decrease the hydraulic risk of river Vingone and become a urban riverside greenway 13 Km Unused railway; 51 Km Partial Unused railway Roma-Fiuggi-Paliano, (22 Km) 22 Km Unused railway 46 Km Revaluing the coast strip, cycle routes In project 46 Km Provincia di Provincia ” Unione Europea). ’ projects Inclusion in Plans and Rete per la Sicurezza “ Modena VAS del PTCP-Provincia di Lodi - Piano di indirizzo forestale- Rapporto Ambientale, Progetto Rever Med (Rete verde europea, finanziato dall Progetto Integrato d'Area between Parco Adda Nord and Province of Milan di Province Modena.Programma valorizzazione e promozione del territorio (P.V.P.T.) Piano di Coordinamento Provinciale - Project to reduce the hydraulic risk of Vingone stream and create a green path for leisure 1990 Soc. Spolentina - Restoration and valorisation project of the railway line for tourist purposes. A project to restore the buildings in Municipalities crossed by the railway Lazio Regional Law n. 40/99 Initiative of the Regione Abruzzo y bod g Year Name osin Region p Pro Villafranca-Mirandola Cycle route, reuse of the buildings railway station, connection between – ex ferrovia Fiuggi-Palianoex Cycle route ’ ex ferrovia Modena-Vignola path for the development and study of historic buildings cycle route ’ Spolentina à Province of Lodi Region Lombardy and Adda Nord River Municipality of Modena Modena di Provincia Regione Emilia Romagna, Province of Florence and the Municipalities Scandicci Societ Regione Lazio Abruzzo regional and provincial boards, Municipalities Lombardia Muzza greenway del canale della 2009 Lombardia Greenway del Parco Adda Nord 2003 Emilia Romagna Greenway dell 2004 Emilia Romagna Pista ciclabile-Modena 2005 Toscana Greenway del Vingone 2006 Umbria Tracciato della ferrovia dismessa Norcia-Spoleto2000 Lazio Pista ciclabile dell 2003 Abruzzo Salvo Greenway Vasto-San 2005 Valorise the former railway track Nr 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 35

35 – Valorising Valorising “ “ ” , Italian State Railway - , Italian State Railway ” ” The Green Way Torchiara - References “ Le Vie del Treno “ . Fondazione Megalia ” Text taken from Greenway: a gentle path through history and nature www.ferroviedimenticate.it Iniziativa Comunitaria Equal II fase Progetto www.Regione Puglia.it www.cicloamici.it/vie_verdi_in_puglia.htm Conference of 20 October 2003 Conference of 20 October 2003 www.leviedeltreno.it ISFORT unused railway lines through the creation of a system of Greenways ISFORT unused railway lines through the creation of a system of Greenways ectives j Creation Ob Characteristics Type and dimensions Anapo (Local Action Group); ’ 9 Km – Suburban- extra-urban Suburban-extra-urban Urban, suburban, -extra-urban Urban-suburban suburban, extra-urban Extra urban - agricultural naturalist routes through the hills Perceptive naturalistic route Greenway 15 Km Protect the historical and natural heritage, tourist revaluation to increase economic and social growth 15 Km Unused railway 76 Km To avoid the depopulation and cultural social loss of villages situated inland In project 76 Km Unused railway 42 Km Avoid the depopulation and cultural social loss of villages situated inland, through tourist promotional initiatives; cycle routes In project 42 Km Routes/cycle route Urban and environmental redevelopment of peripheral areas In project Service lines of the Apulian aqueduct 244 Km subdivided in 5 itineraries In project Unused mining railway, Circuit of the Erei Nebrodi, Dittaino - Leonforte Nicosia; Circuit of the mines; lake; (42 Km) Tourist valorisation, an incentive to local micro economies, cycle routes Partial About 42 Km Cassile, Gal Valle dell Cycle routes to valorisation of historical centres cultural interest and typical products à (Polla) and à projects Inclusion in Plans and Project Feasibility Executive created between the public and private sectors (Province of Salerno, the Municipalities of Torchiara;Fondazione Megalia Initiative proposed by Universit Popolare della Terza Et Guidelines for the promotion of tourist areas crossed by a number of former railway lines in Basilicata, Calabria, Sardinia Integrated Programme for urban and environmental redevelopment of peripheral areas Protocol of understanding between Regional Councillors office for Transport of the Regione Puglia and Acquedotto pugliese-Progetto CYRONMED (Cycle Route Network of the Mediterranean financed with Interreg III B Archimed funds Regional Plan for Transports; Feasibility study proposed by Greenways Associazione italiana Redevelopment and revaluation of internal protected areas, an incentive to local micro economies, cycle routes Club Alpino Italiano (Salerno); - à popolare della Terza Et y à bod g Year Name osin Region p Pro di Puglia ” verdi “ P r o v i n c e o f S a l e r n o , t h e M u n i c iUniversit dimenticata- Associazione ferrovia p a l i tClub Alpino Italiano i e s o f T o r c h i a r a ; F o n d a z i o n e M e g a l i a European Social fund of the Union, Ministry employment and social welfare, Equal community initiative Municipality of Manfredonia-Foggia Province Puglia regional board - Regional Councillors office for Transport Sustainable Mobility Service and cycling (FIAB) Sicily regional board - Province of Enna Association Greenway Sicily regional board Campania Torchiara La verda via di 2004 Campania-Basilicata Greenway Lagonegro-Sicignano 2008 Basilicata Greenway Potenza-Laurenzana 2007 Puglia Greenway Manfredonia 2008 Puglia Le vie 2008 Sicilia Greenway degli Erei 2003 Sicilia Greenway of the unused railway Siracusa-Vizzini2003 Integrated Plan of Sustainable Development the Valleys Anapo del Nr 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 36

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The region boasting the highest number of imple- mented interventions is the Lombardy region with 12 greenways, followed by Sicily with 5 interventions, Palermo

à mainly connected to the Rever Med project, a Euro- Valorising “ pean project with the aim of creating a huge Green Network along the tracks of unused railways, for the

, Italian State Railway - entire western Mediterranean area, connecting and in- ” volving Portugal, Spain, and Italy. References Liguria, with 4 greenway proposals of inter-munic- ipal and European worth, constitutes a novelty in the group of the sector initiatives, since it involves un- used industrial and port areas. Conference of 20 October 2003 unused railway lines through the creation of a system of Greenways http://users.unimi.it/rovelli/greenways www le greenways siciliane/mobilit ISFORT There are eight interventions that are currently only proposals, 2 for Puglia, 2 for Sicily and one each for Abruzzo, Campania, Basilicata and Tuscany, while there are 23 implemented interventions that involve 12 regions. Worth noting for the originality is the pro- posal by the Puglia region to use the infrastructural network of the Apulian aqueduct as a greenway. Concerning relations with territoriality, it emerges that the implementations that are most in line with the official definitions of greenway -…“ Greenways are ectives j systems or networks of connected lands that are pro- Creation Ob tected, managed or developed to provide ecological, Characteristics recreational and historical/cultural benefits” [Associ- Type and dimensions azione Italiana Greenway], “From the mobility point of view, greenways are a system of routes, dedicated to a non-motorised traffic, connecting people with landscape resources (natural, historical, cultural, etc.) and the “centres of life”, both in the urban areas and in the countryside” … [Associazione Italiana Extra urban. Rural naturalistic route Extra urban, agricultural route through the hills Urban, suburban, -extra-urban Unused railway about 42 Km Total 8 Km Unused railway about 26.5 Km Develop tourism for the enjoyment of territory; cycle routes From Villafrastia to Donna Beatrice Unused railway Greenway, cycle route Designing Greenway] - are those of inter-provincial worth, where objectives also of a social - economic nature are pursued, mainly connected with the need to fight the phenomenon of disappearing small inland villages and control the unbalanced urban expansion in a met- ropolitan area. Associazione Italiana projects “

and CO.MO.DO Almost all of the proposals and interventions ex- ” amined may be considered to be in line with the vari-

Inclusion in Plans and ous definitions mentioned above, since they include,

Plan Director approved by the Regional Council that suggested the strategic lines of the Regional Transport Plan; Rever Medocc Program Proposed by Greenway Plan for the non-motorized mobility in general, many functions. For example, the green- ways of the canals in Milan and those along the banks of the river Po in Turin, focus on the leisure function, though without neglecting the other aspects linked to education-knowledge, for the valorisation of the sub- urban and extra-urban territory. Notable examples are the two greenways of

y Battaglia, in Pavia, and Milano-Pavia-Varzi. The lat-

bod ter, seen as an extension of the former, significantly g recovers the historical traffic routes heading for the Year Name osin Region

p sea and restores river areas that today are still mostly

Pro occupied and cultivated without permission. The Battaglia greenway in Pavia certainly is the most consistent with the historic and official defini- tions on the meaning of the term greenway. This con- sistency is shown, with respect to the interventions examined, by the fact that the pathway used was pro- 1 -Analysis of the current status. Greenway interventions created in Italy: posed as a route of historic-cultural and landscape Sicily regional board, Regional Department for Transport and Communication Associazione italiana Greenways and CO.MO.DO Sicily regional board Sicilia Unused raiway Caltagirone-Piazza Armerina2003 Sicilia Unused railway Palermo Burgio Sicilia Greenway Ferdinandea 2010 Develop tourism for the enjoyment of territory; cycle routes worth, connecting together the most qualifying ele- ABLE

Nr 39 40 41 ments, for an organic use of the territory it belongs to. T 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 37

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A route that introduces, and guides us through, the ests. In fact, often collaboration is difficult between “discovery” of the landscape, the historical and monu- organizations with different motivations, breaking mental places and the cultural wealth of the territory large-scale initiatives, sometimes even for simple of Pavia [Rizzo 2004; Valentini 2005]. matters of administrative boundaries. In terms of pre-existing linear elements to be used This has affected the creations, breaking them de- as greenways, we found that unused railway lines spite their validity and functionality. very often provide a greater and immediate feasibility Furthermore, from examining the individual cases, and usability, though conditioned with respect to the it is clear how sometimes, in order to assign specific resources present along the route, which, however, functions to greenways, designed for multiple func- generally have quite an important landscape value, as tions, the will of individual cycling or environmental- is the case for Spoleto-Norcia, Dobbiaco-Cortina, the ist associations prevails over others, thus limiting the Val Brembana, the former railway Ora-Predazzo, the potential functions of the route. former railway Modena-Vignola, the greenway of Val For the interventions implemented in Sicily, in- Seriana, the track of the former railway Mendrisio in stead, where decommissioned rail tracks serving old Switzerland and Malnate in Italy. mines have been used, a right level of consistency The creations that are the least consistent with the was reached between the objectives to be followed definition of greenway concern those cases where the and the way to create them, through the strong shared primary objective is exclusively connected with slow will of bodies and associations and the coordination mobility (cycle lanes), since they are excessively sin- among Municipalities, Provinces and Regions in set- gle minded. ting the methods and procedures to implement the in- In any case, having ascertained that the main pur- tentions. poses to be pursued by a greenway are connected with In addition, it must be pointed out that the creation slow or alternative mobility, and with the valorisation of greenways is not always easy due to problems con- of the endogenous resources, without neglecting the nected with making the route safe for users, the avail- ecological aspects, where present, all of the Italian ability of the entire railway line or of the linear ele- initiatives examined, defined as greenways, may be ment referred to, or due to the non accessibility to the considered as such, according to the most accredited surrounding areas. definition in Europe and Italy. With reference to the financed interventions Not a minor issue, which emerged from the analy- [Agenda 21 Locale; Progetti Interreg; Gal; etc.], it sis of the Italian initiatives, is related to the difficul- emerged that those like the greenways of Pavia, Sicily ties, by associations and organizations, to combine and Pordenone, are among the most consistent with their skills and specificity to achieve common inter- the accredited definitions of a greenway.

Fig. 2 - Greenway through a bridge and a canal along the Acquedotto Pugliese. (picture from “vie verdi” greenways in Puglia). 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 38

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Some creations (the cases of Genoa proposed in bility of the projects. Greenways find in the agricul- the master plans) attribute the creation of greenways tural landscape an ideal substrate for their develop- to the possibility of finding a solution to issues con- ment, where routes to discover, resources to be val- cerning the urban and social recovery of disadvan- orised and the living places to be connected, are all taged areas or marginal and dismissed areas (former closely intertwined. They can become tools for a new industrial zones), while respecting neighbouring areas organisation of the rural territory since, by integrating of environmental worth (neighbourhood management) the objective of valorising the resources with the one and, in general, of the maps AUDIS (Associazione of making them usable, they are able to channel the Aree Urbane Dismesse). territorial policies towards a sustainable development, It is also important to underline that, in some ex- thus improving the connection between urban and ex- amples of greenways (the Pedemontana in Lombardy, tra urban environments and triggering mechanisms for the green path of Torchiara in Campania and the route the valorisation of the rural territory (green tourism, of food and drink tourism in Friuli Venezia Giulia), local trade, etc.). the promoters and financers are private companies or In Italy a huge heritage of infrastructures that can associations, such as Coldiretti for Pordenone. This be used for a new mobility is present. These can play constitutes a tangible sign of how these interventions a supporting role to the existing road network, dedi- can increase credibility in the business world, with the cated only to motor traffic, which are environmentally possibility of profits being made – particularly for the friendly and, at the same time, able to support activi- agricultural sector –, just like the patronage that char- ties that affect rural areas. acterised the Renaissance. These measures tell us about the possibilities inherent in the definition of greenways especially if used for planning resources Acknowledgements on the rural area affecting not only the historical and environmental-naturalistic but also productive and The present work has been carried out under the economic development. Project Research of the University of Bari “La sostenibilità ambientale delle infrastrutture nell’asset- to del territorio rurale”. 4. Conclusion

The material used has made it possible for us to References compare the characteristics of individual greenways with the official greenway definitions created in re- Ahern J., Greenway as a planning strategy. Landscape and cent years, in a way to ascertain the project’s adher- Urban Planning, 1995, 33, pp. 131-135. ence to and/or the moving away from the official defi- Associazione Italiana Greenway: www.greenway.it. nitions of a greenway. This operation has also given Capobianco R.L., Tortora A., Picuno P., Analisi del territo- us an opportunity to reflect on the way in which rio, dell’ambiente e del paesaggio rurale mediante tec- niche di modellizzazione spaziale ed image processing greenways can be a tool supporting the planning and di cartografie storiche. Rivista di Ingegneria Agraria, organization of rural areas, a system that can connect 2004, 35, (3), 71-77. multiple issues relating to social and cultural aspects Dal Sasso P, Marinelli G., Ottolino M.A., Una rete di per- of transformations that affect rural landscape. corsi verdi per la valorizzazione e lo sviluppo del territo- The most evident, consistent and ecological oppor- rio rurale del Gargano Nord, In “Greenway per lo tunities a greenway or a greenway network may offer sviluppo sostenibile del territorio” a cura di Mennella as a tool to plan and transform the territory, are linked V.G.G. Il Verde Editoriale, 2004, Milano. to the valorisation of the existing trails as well as to European Greenways Association, The European Green- the heritage of rural architecture and food products ways Good Practice Guide, 1999. (farm houses, rural houses, villages, roadman’s hous- Fabos J.G., Ahern J. (editors), Greenways. The beginning es, green tourism facilities, protection of typical and of an international movement. Elsevier,1995, Amster- dam. endangered productions) that is able to produce Fabos J.G., Greenway planning in the United State: its ori- economies of scale at a local and regional level, and gins and recent case studies. Landascape and Urban so on. Planning, 2004, 68, pp. 321-342. The greenway projects and creations, by promoting Fabos J.G., Ryan R.L., International greenway planning: an the use of eco-compatible means and methods, con- introduction. Landscape and Urban Planning, 2004. tribute to safeguarding the agricultural landscape, Guide Alleanza De Agostini Outdoor, Greenways in Italia. valorising agro-environmental and naturalistic re- Scoprire le nostre strade verdi. De Agostini, 2003, Mi- sources, developing recreational and tourist forms of lano. use, while providing an opportunity to sustain agri- Yokohari M., Amemiya M., Amati M., The history and fu- cultural activities by favouring their environmental ture directions of greenway in Japanese New Towns. Landscape and Urban Planning, 2006, 76, pp. 210-222. compatibility [Valentini 2005]. Little C.E., Greenways for America. Johns Hopkins Univer- Indeed, the relationship between greenways and sity Press, 1990, Baltimore (MD). the rural territory is a key element for the actual feasi- Maternini G., Pezzagno M., Le caratteristiche funzionali 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 39

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delle greenways: un primo approccio metodologico. 2° del paesaggio, Università degli Studi di Firenze, 2005, Convegno Europeo Greenways, 1999, Milano 22 ottobre. anno 2, numero 2, volume 2, maggio-agosto. Mennella V.G.G. e altri, Profilo Italia Indicatori e modelli per lo sviluppo sostenibile del territorio e la valoriz- zazione del paesaggio. Ali&no editrice, 2006, Perugia. SUMMARY Rizzo G.G., Valentini A., Luoghi e paesaggi in Italia. Col- lana del Dottorato di ricerca in progettazione paesistica The study analyses the greenway projects imple- dell’Università degli Studi di Firenze, 2004, University mented in Italy, summarising their characteristics in a Press Firenze. table that contains basic information concerning the Taylor J., Paine C., FitzGibbon J., From greembelt to green- ways: four Canadian case studies. Landascape and Ur- geographical location, year of implementation, the ban Planning, 1995, 33, pp. 47-64. type of layout and size, the state of implementation; Toccolini A. e altri, Percorsi verdi: un’opportunità di the Institution that proposed the implementation, the sviluppo e riscoperta del territorio rurale. Quaderni I official name, the territorial feature, the socio-eco- Georgofili, 2001, 1/2000, Firenze. nomic and cultural aims, references to bibliographic Toccolini A., Fumagalli N., Senes G., Valorizzazione delle and web resources and to their inclusion in plans and linee ferroviarie non utilizzate attraverso la creazione di projects. The analysis has allowed to verify the com- un sistema di greenways. Associazione greenway Italia, pliance of individual contributions to the definitions 2000, Milano. attributed to the greenway from national and interna- Tortora A., Picuno P., Analysis of the effect on rural land- tional associations. It has been possible to verify the scape of wide coverings for crop growing. Acta Horti- culturae, 2008, vol. 801, pp. 325-332 ISSN: 0567-7572. use of greenways as physical support to spatial plan- Turner T., Greenways: theory and history. Conferenza Fa- ning and the promotion of economic and productive coltà di Agraria Università di Milano, 2001, 17 maggio. development of rural areas. Valentini A., Mettere in rete le risorse: le greenway quali strumenti per il progetto del paesaggio perturbano. In Keywords: planning wide area - rural territory - Quaderni della Ri-Vista Ricerche per la progettazione table of greenway. 004_Dal_Sasso(585)_29 22-03-2011 19:14 Pagina 40