Greening program for petrified residential neighborhoods in The Hague

About six years ago, The Hague put itself on the map by being the first municipality in the Netherlands to develop policy for Nature Inclusive Building. An initiative that was widely copied in other cities as well as nationally. Since then, the municipality has also realized other leading policies and numerous projects that not only make the city more green and nature-inclusive, but also more climate-proof and livable. One of these is the Cromvliet neighborhood park in Laak. An iconic project, according to Wiebke Klemm and Ralph Pitlo, senior policy officers at the municipality. "This initiative has really been a catalyst for new green and climate adaptation projects within the municipality."

To achieve a livable, future-proof city, The Hague is taking various measures. "What is important is that you look at greening the city at different scales and take it up together with the residents," Klemm stressed. "At the highest scale level, it is about preserving the valuable nature at the city's edges, the Natura 2000 areas and the Hollandse Duinen National Park. In the city, we strengthen the large green structures and the typical Hague long lines parallel to the coast, and green the residential areas. At the lowest level of scale, we encourage residents to green their gardens and roofs. For example, the municipality distributes trees to residents and offers a subsidy for climate-adaptive measures on private property."

An important, recent milestone in greening the city is the Climate Adaptation and Greening Petrified Neighborhoods Action Program, for which The Hague is providing 2.4 million euros by 2024. Studies of greening opportunities have identified paved squares, wide verges, sidewalks and treeless streets. An ecosystem services model is used to determine for the neighborhood where the additional greenery should contribute. "Ecosystem services are all the values that greenery represents, such as combating heat stress and water infiltration," Pitlo explains. For each site, we look at what is technically feasible, after which a design is made. "By visualizing what such a spot could look like you open up a conversation, both internally and externally. In this way we can make concrete plans for greening petrified neighborhoods and get straight down to work. We do this together with residents, entrepreneurs and housing corporations."

One big project is addressing the city's main thoroughfare, center ring the S100. "That is a route where 100 thousands of people drive, so there is a huge opportunity there. We want to realize this greening project in 2025 which will create 1.5 hectares of green space." In the neighborhoods, nearly one acre of green space should be realized this year and a few hundred trees. "In total, we want three soccer fields of new green space in 2024 and 2025," he said.

A gem among the greening projects is the Cromvliet neighborhood park in Laak, where an innovative Urban Water Buffer was implemented with EU funding. "This project started in 2018 and will be completed in 2023," Klemm says. "This is a redevelopment project in a petrified neighborhood with small houses without balconies or gardens. In a co-creation process with the residents, schools and other neighborhood organizations, we created a green park with vegetable garden and petting zoo where there is room for a playground, soccer field, a stage and ecological banks along the quay. Under the park, a water buffer holds rainwater and surface water. The water is collected in a crate system, purified in a biofilter and then stored 15 to 20 feet underground. "We can pump that water up in the summer and reuse it as drinking water for the animals or for the vegetable garden," says Dr. K. K., who has been working with the park for several years. Meanwhile, the park has become the beating center of the neighborhood. "The park is always packed. Residents are really proud of their neighborhood." The project has received a number of awards including the 2022 Stone Breaks trophy for professionals. "A tangible exemplary project can be a catalyst for new projects within the municipality," Klemm said. "It has helped to ensure that green and climate adaptation programs are now being taken up more broadly."