Fortaleza, Brazil

Photo by Seu Zequinha

Sustainability and Resilience

What efforts have been made to reduce the carbon footprint of the initiative?

The design of the equipment and the furniture is made based on the geography and the natural resources that the place offers. Moreover, the pruning wood from the city, which is normally discarded, is used in the intervention, for the production of equipment and coverings. The Micro Park is an alternative to the construction of traditional squares, with reduced paving, increased permeability, and increased vegetation coverage.

How have the anticipated impacts of climate change been considered?

The design of the equipment and the furniture is made based on the geography and the natural resources that the place offers. Moreover, the pruning wood from the city, which is normally discarded, is used in the intervention, for the production of equipment and coverings. The Micro Park is an alternative to the construction of traditional squares, with reduced paving, increased permeability, and increased vegetation coverage.

What processes does the initiative include for it to be considerate in its use of soils and other natural resources?

The Urban Micro Parks program is an initiative of the Municipality of Fortaleza, through the Innovation Lab of the Foundation of Science, Technology and Innovation and the Municipal Secretary of Urbanism and Environment, in partnership with the Urban 95 Network. Urban Micro Parks combine two concepts for the recovery of degraded areas and the construction of new public spaces for the population to be in contact with nature. The Naturalized Park concept proposes the use of elements such as trunks, branches and the topography and vegetation of the land to create places for socializing and playing that are more attractive and challenging for children. They are also a simple and cheap way to expand the network of urban green areas.  The concept was presented by Alana Institute, a partner of the city of Fortaleza through the Urban 95 Network, a global initiative that seeks to include the perspective of babies, young children and caregivers in urban planning and in the programs and services offered by cities. The Urban Micro Park is a combination of a Naturalized Park and a traditional square, with elements already known and demanded by the population, such as benches and garbage bins, sidewalks for walking, improvement in public lighting, with the insertion of natural elements, using pruned wood to produce furniture, maintaining the permeability, vegetation and topography of the terrain.