Summary
In order to improve the resilience of a neighborhood in the coastal city of San José del Cabo and enhance the citizens' quality of life, this project rehabilitated a multifunctional, safe, and inclusive public space. The initiative "Our resilient neighborhood" brought together the municipality, the local community and allied organizations for a co-creation process. Through volunteer groups that include women and youth, the initiative developed a multifunctional green space and a community pavilion using local low-emission materials, and also provided capacity building on financial education and first aid. The newly established green infrastructure promotes biodiversity and addresses the water and climate issues in the area by providing watersheds, infiltration, runoff areas and native vegetation. The residents have been encouraged to appropriate the public space through tactical urbanism. The park now provides a space for educational, cultural and sports activities.
Classifications
Region
Scale of implementation
Ecosystem
Theme
Urban and Disaster Risk Management
Challenges
Sustainable development goals
Aichi targets
Challenges
Today, 80 per cent of all Mexicans live in cities. The concentration of large populations in highly dense urban areas brings about critical issues for Mexican cities and their citizens; traffic jams, air and noise pollution, lack of sufficient green infrastructure and inclusive public spaces are
just some to mention. The effects of climate change compounded by the overexploitation of natural resources have left many rapidly growing urban areas in Mexico threatened by water scarcity. Los Cabos, a coastal municipality in Baja California Sur with the highest urbanization rate in Mexico, which is closely linked to tourism, needs solutions to these challenges. Due to the concentration of infrastructure on the coastal strip in this region, neighborhoods further away from the coast are confronted with intensified social, economic, and environmental issues. Women, youth and children suffer more vulnerability, and therefore their perspective needs to be specifically addressed.
Beneficiaries
- The community of the neighborhood Colinas San José in San José del Cabo
- The municipality, especially the Public Services Department
- Public schools and a group of scouts
Building blocks
How do the building blocks interact?
- a criteria-based site selection ensures that the objectives, involved actors, financial resources and available measures can generate the desired outcome
- the integration of the community ensures that their needs are taken into account in every phase and facilitates their hands-on support in the implementation phase and for maintenance of the public space
Interaction Gallery
Impacts
Tangible results:
• 8 rain infiltration gardens and 1 absorption well
• 3 picnic areas
• 300 native plants
• 3 murals, 29 benches and 2 pedestrian crossings painted
• 2 access ramps
• 2 modified sandpits
• new trails
• 1 bus stop
Intangible results:
• Neighbors are organized and trained.
• More interaction and communication in the community.
• Increased perception of security in the park.
• Direct communication channels between the community and the municipality.
• Agreement on roles and responsibilities for maintaining the park.
• Public Services was trained in the sustainable management of public parks.
Story
For generating change, it requieres a common goal and joint efforts. This initiative and the many-sided results it achieved were possible thanks to the participation of neighbors, scout groups, schools and the collaboration of more than 10 local and international organizations, institutions and the municipality.
The efforts were recognized through the 1st prize of the World Urban Parks Congress Award 2022, in the category of health and wellbeing.
These were the main contributions of each organization:
Municipality: permits, plant donations, cleanups, removal of structures
Niparajá, Urbanería, EPI: socio-environmental and topographic analysis, participatory workshops on the design of the space, green infrastructure, urban art, tactical urbanism, urban furniture and maintenance
ASA: capacity building on first aid
Philanthropiece: workshops on financial education and sustainable consumption
GIZ: management of funds, coordination with partners, communication products
More pictures
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