Hungary

Candidate – Hungary

Submission by: Budapest, 13th district local government

Project name: Dráva park development

Short description

With the renovation of Dráva Park, the 13th district Local Government created a sustainable, community-building and biodiverse urban public park. The 4125 m² area was renovated in 2024 with the involvement of the local residents, organized around a system of walkways reminiscent of the meandering Dráva River.

The park offers something for all ages: a playground, outdoor fitness equipment, a reading pavilion, community tables, and an expanded dog run. With nearly 15,000 plants representing more than 70 species, the area is a model of biodiversity, improving air quality, cooling the environment, and mitigating the urban heat island effect.
Sustainable use of materials and a water-saving irrigation system make the park economically sustainable in the long term, serving both the well-being of the population and climate-conscious urban development.

a) Social Cohesion

The renovated park serves the recreational, sporting, and community needs of the population. The swivel chairs, chess table, outdoor bookcase and reading pavilion located around the central square are places for meeting and spending time together. The playground is divided into separate zones to provide fun for younger and older children, complete with shade sails and a drinking fountain.

The fitness equipment, ping-pong and foosball tables can be used by both younger and older generations, while the picnic furniture, seating rocks and grassy areas encourage informal relaxation. The expanded, well-equipped dog run also strengthens community life, as it becomes a regular meeting place for dog owners.

The entire park is accessible, the fenced playground is safe, and it provides a worthy and attractive community space for residents of all ages.

b) Biodiversity

Increasing biodiversity was a key objective during the renovation of Dráva Park. In addition to preserving the existing valuable tree population, we planted 20 new trees of 13 different species, thus ensuring diversity and year-round decorative value.

The shrub layer consists of 4,513 specimens representing more than twenty species. Evergreens (e.g., cherry laurel, heather, St. John’s wort) provide structure throughout the year, while flowering shrubs (e.g., spiraea, viburnum, Japanese barberry) bring color and fragrance to the park.

A total of 9,704 perennials and 739 ornamental grasses were planted in the perennial beds, representing a rich selection of more than fifty species. These plants offer a different view in each season, while providing a habitat for pollinating insects, butterflies, and birds.

The diverse plant life helps purify the air, reduce noise and dust, improve the microclimate, and preserve a divers habitat. The park thus has not only recreational value but also ecological value, serving as a true model of biodiversity.

c) Economic Factors

The renovation strengthens the local economy on several levels. Plants and building materials from domestic suppliers were used during the investment, reducing transport costs and environmental impact.

The park does not generate direct income, but it significantly increases the value of surrounding properties. The tidy, safe environment also has a positive impact on the turnover of local shops and restaurants.

Operation is cost-effective, as maintenance costs can be reduced through the use of water-permeable pavements, self-sustaining plantings, and a water-saving irrigation system. Public lighting is provided by energy-efficient LED lamps.

d) Impact on climate

The renovation of Dráva Park makes a tangible contribution to the improvement of the urban climate. The water-permeable design of most surfaces, their slope towards green areas, and the system of micro-hills allows precipitation to be retained and drained locally, thereby reducing the load on the public sewer system and promoting the natural water cycle.

The multi-layered vegetation in the park – deciduous trees, shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses – creates a microclimate that moderates the summer heat. The shade provided by the canopy and the evaporative surface of the plants reduce the urban heat island effect, making the park noticeably cooler than the surrounding built-up areas. The renovation of the park has significantly increased the biological activity value of the area.

The noise and dust pollution from traffic on Dráva Street is mitigated by dense, evergreen plant strips that provide protection throughout the year. The diverse plantings also contribute to CO₂ sequestration, air purification, and humidity balance.

The climate-conscious approach is also reflected in the park’s operation: an automatic, water-saving irrigation system minimizes water consumption. The park thus mitigates the effects of climate change in a complex way, while providing a more livable environment for residents.

e) Wellbeing of Visitors/Users

Dráva Park is located in one of the most densely built-up urban areas of the district, which is why it is particularly important that it offers complex recreational opportunities for the population. After the renovation, all age groups will find something appealing: young children will enjoy the sand and water play areas, older children will enjoy the slide, swing and climbing equipment, while adults will enjoy the outdoor fitness equipment or community games (foosball, ping-pong, chess table).

The reading pavilion and outdoor bookcase in the park offer quiet relaxation, which promotes intellectual enrichment and community culture. Picnic tables, pebble seating, and shaded rest areas with sun sails are designed for socializing and comfortable relaxation.

The entire area is barrier-free, so wheelchair users and those with prams have equal access to the park’s facilities. To ensure the safety of children the playground is protected by a fence with a gate that can be locked.

The clean, tidy environment and public safety-friendly design also contribute to user well-being. Dráva Park thus provides physical, mental, and community rejuvenation, contributing to the health and quality of life of local residents.

f) Products and materials used

Sustainable material use was a key consideration in the park’s renovation. The main walkway is paved with asphalt, while the secondary paths alternate between paving stones and stabilized gravel, providing variety in terms of both functionality and aesthetics. The playground’s molded rubber surface is safe, easy to clean, and enhances the visual experience with its playful colors.

The park furniture was sourced from internationally recognized manufacturers known for their durability and design. The Mmcité outdoor swivel chairs, picnic tables, and benches, the Eibe and Hags playground elements, and the stone and metal furniture manufactured in Hungary all ensure long life and quality use. The outdoor bookcase and reading pavilion promote community interaction in an innovative yet sustainable way.

All plants come from domestic nurseries, reducing the environmental impact of transportation and supporting the local economy. To replace the felled trees, 20 new, triple-grafted specimens were planted. The shrubs, perennials, and ornamental grasses represent a total of nearly 15,000 new plants that are suited to the local ecological conditions.

The choice of materials conveys uniformity and durability: a combination of natural stone, wood, and metal gives the park its character. Irrigation is provided by an automatic, water-saving system. Overall, materials use has not only aesthetic but also environmental and economic benefits

g) Overall Design

The design of Dráva Park was inspired by the winding, meandering course of the Dráva River, which is echoed by the layout of the main promenade. This motif refers to local identity while creating a playful, easily navigable spatial structure. The river-like layout is emphasized by micro-hills that imitate the riverbank.

The central space retains its water architecture, which we have complemented with new paving and furniture that blends in with the environment. The chess table, reading pavilion, and outdoor bookcase placed around it make the heart of the park a vibrant place for community life.

With the expansion of the playground, the park has become an inspiring and exciting place for children. The hills, slide, water and sand toys together create a complex playground that promotes both physical development and creativity. The colorful rubber flooring also creates a playful atmosphere.

The fitness park on the eastern side of the central square complements the sports facilities with static equipment, foosball and ping-pong tables. The expanded dog run along Dráva Street has been enhanced with unique features (dog sandpit, dog toilet), offering something new for all users of the park.

The grassy areas and micro-hills provide a natural space experience and also play a role in shaping the microclimate. The transparent, safe spatial structure, uniform appearance, and biodiverse plantings combine to create a modern, multifunctional urban public park.

h) Impact on the Environment

Environmental considerations were key during the renovation of Dráva Park. The slope of the pavements and their water-permeability help to retain precipitation, thereby reducing the load on the public sewer system and improving groundwater replenishment. The lawns and perennial beds reduce the environmental heat load through evaporation.

The park’s vegetation helps to capture CO₂ from traffic on Dráva Street, reduce airborne dust, and mitigate noise pollution, especially through the evergreen plant strip planted along the busy Dráva Street. The biodiverse planting, featuring more than 70 species, creates a diverse habitat for pollinators, butterflies, and songbirds.

The selected materials are long-lasting and can partially be recycled, thus decreasing the creation of waste in the future. The solutions used in the park, such as the automatic, water-saving irrigation system, reduce water usage, thus operation is done in an environmentally friendly way.

i) Innovation Value of the Project

The special feature of Dráva Park is its curved promenade system and sandbank-like green islands, which refer to the Dráva River and to local identity, while at the same time represent a contemporary design solution.

The concept of retaining rainwater and using water-permeable paving can be applied in other city parks, as can the reuse of the central water architecture.

The combination of hills, water, and sand in the playground also offers innovative and varied play opportunities. The integrated presence of a fitness park, dog run, and reading pavilion is a good example of how a multifunctional, climate-conscious public park can be created in a densely built-up urban environment.