2025 Award "Best Practice in Citizen Participation"

19th Edition

Phase 4 of 8

Results open vote 28/03/2025 - 31/03/2025

Process phases

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Trnava: Revitalising residential area Agátka in Trnava

Official proposal

07/02/2025 17:47

The revitalization of the Agátka courtyard in Trnava stands out as a model participatory urban planning practice, emphasizing transparency, inclusivity, and collaboration. This multi-phase project integrated citizen engagement at every stage, ensuring the final outcome reflected the community's needs and aspirations.

The process began with public meetings and surveys in 2017, where residents shared their ideas and priorities for the space. These inputs informed the guidelines for a landscape-architectural competition, ensuring the selected design resonated with local preferences. The participatory approach continued with updates and feedback collection through the city's dedicated platform, planujmesto.trnava.sk, which served as a transparent communication tool throughout the project.

Key milestones included obtaining the zoning decision in 2019, finalizing project documentation in 2020, and securing a building permit in 2021. Construction, carried out between March and December 2022, transformed the courtyard into a multifunctional public space. The design features a 250-meter-long artificial stream, a community garden, trampolines, water elements, a playground, wooden play elements, and a slide suitable for all ages. Accessibility improvements, such as public restrooms and enhanced pathways, were complemented by plans to integrate the space into Trnava's cycling network.

Communication and engagement were central to the project's success. Diverse channels, including public meetings, surveys, social media, and local media, were utilized to ensure inclusivity. Workshops and interactive activities fostered a sense of ownership among residents, while the online platform kept them informed and involved.

The Agátka project exemplifies the value of participatory urban planning in creating public spaces that are sustainable, inclusive, and responsive to community needs. It highlights Trnava's commitment to engaging citizens in shaping their urban environment while maintaining transparency and fostering trust. This approach not only revitalized a physical space but also strengthened the relationship between the city and its residents.