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Kazanka Strategy: Creating Russia’S Largest Urban Riverpark Embankments Were Created Resource for the Sustainable Fivefold

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Kazanka Strategy: Creating Russia’S Largest Urban Riverpark Embankments Were Created Resource for the Sustainable Fivefold BIOPHILIC CITIES JOURNAL / RIVER PLAN PROFILE of the mobilisation process. developments were encroaching through the support of green The combination of an online on the natural areas. Many Kazan technologies, eco-tourism and and offline visual presence of citizens were crossing the river recreation. the strategy was important by car every day without being to diversify the profiles of much aware of its presence. The influence on city health contributors, and to mobilise has also been assessed using the energies of potential As a response, the aim of the methodologies approved by future stakeholders and local strategy is to create the largest the World Health Organization. associations. connected ecosystem of river The implementation of the parks in the country, with the strategy will potentially lead In 2020, the strategy was creation of 12 new parks, 150km to a 13.4% decrease in annual officially approved and set of pedestrian and cycling paths, mortality in the city and save into implementation by the and over 1,500 ha of accessible up to $20 million USD of health President of Tatarstan, Rustam and protected green territories. expenses for the city. In the time Minnikhanov, and Mayor of “Eco-gates’’ designed as eco- of pandemic, making accessible Kazan, Ilsur Metshin. parking with basic facilities will natural territories has never been allow visitors to comfortably more important to encourage a Why Kazanka? access the park. An iconic 42km healthier lifestyle and “breathing walking and bike trail called spaces” for all. Kazanka river flows for 22 km “from Blue Lakes to Volga” will be through the heart of Kazan, with the symbol of this new continuity. The 12 parks of Kazanka: One about 500,000 people living Common Mission through within a 15-minute walk from These territories will not only Different Identities Kazan Kremlin and Kazanka River the river, but with almost no become new recreational Photo by Rafael Mukhametdinov access to it. Over the years, major destinations; the ambition is to The 12 new river parks will pieces of infrastructure created utilise their potential to become increase the amount of square barriers along the river; concrete an economic and educational meters of parks per citizen Kazanka Strategy: Creating Russia’s Largest Urban Riverpark embankments were created resource for the sustainable fivefold. Each park will have By Ekaterina Goldberg, Co-Founder at Orchestra Design and slowly but steadily private development of Kazan, its own cultural identity and Kazan, Tatarstan’s capital city As a continuation of the The river strategy began and one of the most vibrant programme, the city set itself an with a “mobilisation” process Russian million-plus cities, is even more ambitious mission: that identified and involved known for its business-friendly adoption of an ecological more than 100 local experts, environment, high speed of strategy that aims to become community leaders and development and active scientific the new guiding tool for the stakeholders. A participatory research. Since 2015, under the capital city’s development for online platform was launched curation of Natalia Fishman- the next five to ten years. In (www.kazanka.tatar) where Bekmambetova, advisor to the 2019, under the direction of citizens could locate their president of Tatarstan, Kazan Fishman-Bekmambetova, the suggestions and report issues has been pioneering a public Kazanka river strategy was on the map. More than 600 spaces renovation programme, launched and piloted by urban contributions were submitted which saw the renovation of design studio Orchestra Design, and analysed. The participatory more than 400 parks around the in collaboration with city process was also present in entire Republic. The programme, departments, ministries of the social media with over one by its scale and participatory Republic of Tatarstan and key hundred posts (@kazanka. methodology, became a standard public stakeholders. tatar) and partnerships with Manzara (Park No. 2,) for Russian cities. local press extending the reach Image Credit: Orchestra 66 BIOPHILIC CITIES JOURNAL VOL. 4 NO. 1 | APRIL 2021 | 67 Sports Park (Park No. 7) springs, wetlands, small streams, Kazanka as a Platform for Green to participate in a whole set republic ministries and the Image Credit: Orchestra and lakes, as well as ancient Tech of natural activities like eco- author of the strategy. The trees, rare plants and birds. camping, sports in nature, forest delicate transition between One of the strategy’s first steps The strategy was an opportunity bathing (from the Japanese a strategy and concrete was to identify and map all to go beyond a pure urban tradition of Shinrin Yoku), bird- implementation projects will be these natural assets with the planning with the aim of watching and guided walks. further ensured by a Kazanka collaboration of local ecologists. becoming a platform of team. opportunities for innovations and The development of eco- The biodiversity map resulting collaborations between startups, tourism will also be supported The ambition now is to create from this collaboration will be universities and the city. The first by private investments in a the first National River Park and used as a base for educational step is the organization of a large number of hotels, camping sites, to create a specific federal model materials as well as navigation in green tech event around Kazanka ecological and touristic centres. for preservation and evolution the parks. Ecological research is in 2021 bringing together The extensive mobilisation of river territories within large a first step and provides the basis startups from the whole country campaign around the Kazanka cities in Russia. This would for each of the park’s projects and national and international strategy attracted the attention recognize the particularities of to make sure that every park experts with the support of of investors and established a such territories and the necessity project preserves the ecosystem the Russian-French initiative dialogue platform. A Kazanka to put in place flexible planning and creates the opportunity for Dialogue de Trianon. Manager was appointed at the tools and legislation at the different embankments will a slow ecological remediation people to learn from the project end of the study to be the point federal level. More importantly have unique character, but they program, which will host a to take care of the park. Eco-tourism as an Emerging of contact between potential it would encourage the will share a common mission: combined university research Economy investors and the city to facilitate development of know-how, which to protect natural assets and and visitor centre. The park will In order to legally preserve the discussions. can benefit other Russian cities. reinforce the connection between offer the possibility to put on natural territories, the official Beyond green technologies, the citizens and nature through rubber boots and explore the borders of the park were legally Kazanka strategy has revealed A Strategy as a First Step: a Resources: eco-education, educational safe areas of the swamp, as well adopted, including 660 ha of real economic potential for eco- Future Federal Model of River signages, a variety of recreational as to walk along the wooden land listed as a natural reserve. tourism in Kazan. It is estimated Parks Development Strategy Kazanka: opportuntieis in nature paths to discover the swamp’s In the process, a large residential that 5.7 million visitors will From the Blue Lakes to the Volga. supported by park services and rich wildlife. project on protected area was visit Kazanka parks every year, Following the official approval https://kazanka.tatar. cultural programs. officially canceled, preserving 20 approximately 20% of them of the strategy, a series of The 5 Rivers Park is the largest ha of land; a symbolic win and a tourists. implementation seminars took Orchestra Design. https://www. Facing the Kremlin, park park of the strategy, at over signal that ecology is becoming The ecological tourism will place between relevant public orchestra-design.com/ru. Manzara (panorama in the Tatar 600ha – it will be a natural an important driver for the offer opportunities for visitors stakeholders: city administration, language) will boast the best park that will allow visitors to Tatarstan capital. views of the historical center get away from the city, only 30 through a system of piers and an minutes from the center. The park The strategy also set the amphitheatre integrated within will invite visitors to spend a base to launch a participatory an existing dam structure and day walking or biking along the water-monitoring system that within natural areas. The park meanders of the river and its four will help to identify unknown will preserve the old birch grove tributaries. This will be a perfect sources of water pollution. Data surrounded by anti-flooding destination for school camping will be made accessible to the canals made in the times of Peter and out-of-school classes as well public and the progress in the the Great. The piers will tell the as family week-end retreats. identification and removal of story of the changing panorama sources of pollution such as stormwater run-off or illegal and how it evolved throughout Ecological Actions: Identify, discharges will be monitored. the city’s history. Protect, Monitor and Clean The strategy offers a more The Su Alany (water field in Tatar) Kazanka and its adjacent complex set of tools to clean the water, moving away from the old Plan Map Porttion from wetlands park, on what is now a territories are a complex Development Strategy Kazanka polluted swamp, will undertake ecosystem of underwater approach that included only on mechanical cleaning stations. 68 BIOPHILIC CITIES JOURNAL VOL. 4 NO. 1 | APRIL 2021 | 69.
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