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Klima100

100 climate solutions from Danish Municipalities

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A co-development project engages citizens in designing recreational elements for a local municipal climate adaptation project protecting exposed areas from a 100-year rain event.

In 2014, Gladsaxe Municipality initiated a local climate adaptation project. Three years in, local citizens have been given the opportunity to directly influence the recreational elements of the project. Under the citizen-driven budget scheme ‘Local Voices’, local citizens have worked collaboratively and with local decision makers, to implement a series of recreational features. The result of the overall project is the green urban space, ‘King Hans Garden’ (Kong Hans Have), fit to accommodate recreational activities by citizens of all ages, while protecting the area against a 100-year rain event.

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TONNES OF CO2 SAVED EACH YEAR VIA THE KING HANS GARDEN PROJECT

Today, the previously unused area of land has been transformed into a small hilly park with trails, a lake, trees, and over 3,000 plants and flowers, in part- climate adaptation, part-rejuvenation project. From the busy street next to the park, heavy rains are directed to King Hans Garden, which has a volume of 2,300 m3, allowing natural filtration processes to ease pressure on drainage systems and reduce the chance of flooding.

Today, the garden, which was previously an unused lawn, has been transformed into a landscape rich in nature.

The involvement of citizens has helped locals to embrace the climate adaptation project in its entirety, and has improved social cohesion throughout the local community.

How the Global Goals are addressed

Quality Education

The project has led to public schools and institutions on Kong Hans Street gaining access to the Garden as an outdoor classroom where students can explore nature.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

The adjacent street, now greener and safer, is expected to increase the number of children and adults who choose to bike, providing a new perception of the local environment.

Life on Land

The King Hans Garden project has integrated nature into the city and the everyday lives of its citizens. This includes an increase of flora and fauna into the area.