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Citizens upgrade their public spaces

A project partnership of Mannheim, Chișinău and Chernivtsi (Nakopa 2017-2019)

'Rethinking public space – Citizens shape their future': this is the title and at the same time the goal of the trilateral project partnership between Mannheim (Germany), Chișinău (Republic of Moldova) and Chernivtsi (Ukraine). As part of the cooperation, experts from the three municipalities worked together to implement a pilot project to redesign public spaces. The partner municipalities worked to modern standards of integrated urban development, and with the participation of local citizens.

People sit at a white table, on which documents, glasses and bottles stand and lie.
Before the spaces were redesigned, experts from the three municipalities exchanged ideas. Photo: Engagement Global

The development cooperation for the project built on the long-standing ties of the city-to-city partnership between Mannheim and Chișinău. This meant broadening and expanding the work performed under the traditional twinning scheme. With the inclusion of the Ukrainian City of Chernivtsi in the project partnership, a development project of the City of Mannheim was implemented trilaterally for the first time. This generated special synergy effects within the intermunicipal exchange.

The starting point for the project 'Rethinking public space – Citizens shape their future' was recognition of the following facts, which apply to all three participating municipalities:

  • Public spaces are often less accessible for certain groups of people, for example because they are not barrier-free.
  • Therefore, these spaces cannot be used equally, especially by people with disabilities, the elderly, women and children.
  • The extent to which citizens identify with their municipality, and their willingness to assume responsibility, is low.
Before and after picture of the public square in Chișinău.
Before and after – how one public space in Chișinău changed. Photo: Engagement Global

In the cities of Chișinău and Chernivtsi, a public space was redesigned with the support of experts from Mannheim in a comprehensive citizen participation process. In participatory planning processes in each of the participating cities, citizens and the local authority jointly developed a design for a public space in a disadvantaged urban neighbourhood. This not only upgraded the public space itself and made it more accessible, but also strengthened both the democratic culture at the local level, and confidence in local government. The redesign of the spaces was preceded by a comprehensive sharing of professional expertise between the experts of the three cities. The City of Mannheim contributed its experience and expertise by providing technical support for the pilot project. This covered both the planning and implementation of the participatory processes, and the actual implementation of the construction measures in the partner cities.

In July 2019, the square in the City of Chernivtsi was inaugurated, and in November 2019, the pilot project in Chișinău was successfully completed. Thanks to the accessibility-friendly renovation of the green areas and pavements, as well as a modern lighting concept, the spaces in both cities are now much more appealing, and invite visitors to spend time there.