SR 
Workshop "WHAT KIND OF PARK DO WE WANT?" was held on Sunday, September 19 as part of the Neighborhood Day - "Dorćol Park Fest" organized by the association "Ekonaut" and "Neighbors from Dorćol". At the workshop, held in the premises of "Civic Initiatives", a dialogue was initiated regarding the initiative to arrange the corner of Mihizova Street and Herceg Stjepan Street as a park for all generations, in one of the most polluted parts of Belgrade where there are not enough green areas.
Before the workshop, the organizers conducted a survey filled out by more than a hundred citizens living in this part of the city, which clearly indicated the need for a new green area. The largest number of respondents believe that the quality of green areas in lower Dorćol is poor and inadequate, and the part of the survey related to the area of the potential park showed that there is a need for more trees (74.3%) and places to sit and socialize (71.6%). Also, the survey indicated the need for facilities for children and biodiversity zones.
Both adults and children participated in the workshop and, during the given time interval of 30 to 45 minutes, divided into groups, they worked on a proposal for arranging a potential park, determining the arrangement of elements and their importance for the space and its users. Through a game that encourages cooperation of participants, the citizens took active roles of thinking about a public space that would be open to the local community and intended for socializing and playing. As a result of the workshop, three complete conceptual solutions were obtained as a starting point for potential landscaping. Also, various comments were collected about the current situation and needs of the users, including lighting in the park, the presence of pets in the space provided for children etc.
This model of active, participatory public space planning is increasingly used in urban planning of micro locations in order to involve the local community in the planning of the space that will be used and gain an understanding of the process that leads to sustainable solutions. This way, local decision makers are sensitized to the needs of the public interest in the community, when it comes to public spaces.
The workshop was moderated by Milena Ivković from Block 74, a Dutch-Serbian architect, urban designer and digital artist who uses her knowledge of urban forms and co-design techniques to help improve public spaces. During the workshop, Sabina Kerić from the association "Ekonaut" briefly presented the work of the association and the project "Initiative for Garden Communities", especially emphasizing the importance of shared gardens for sustainable urban development.
After the workshop, the "Dorćol Park Fest" program continued in this potential outdoor park, where those gathered symbolically started a small spice garden, and the plants were planted by children who drew their plans for the park at the workshop. The day before the festival, the organizations "Ekonaut" and "Neighbors from Dorćol" cleaned the area of the potential park, which, due to unresolved property legal relations, is not in the regular maintenance system, which hinders the final transformation of this plot into a green area. With basic hygienic cleaning and trimming, this potentially future park has been brought into a condition so that the open part can be used freely even after the festival.
The project "Initiative for Garden Communities" is implemented within the project of the Belgrade Open School "Green Incubator", with financial support from the European Union and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation. The content of this site does not necessarily reflect the views of donors or the Belgrade Open School, and "Ekonaut" is solely responsible for it.
