Parks without borders

Summary of the project

The European Commission has suspended the cooperation with the Russian Federation within this Programme and participation of Russian beneficiaries in project implementation is suspended as well.

The project “Parks without borders” aims to set up the cross-border cooperation between the Programme regions of Latvia and Russia in order to develop efficient management of 7 nature objects: Spārīte park (Gulbene), Juzefova park (Daugavpils county), Preiļi Manor Park (Preiļi), Shchiglitsy Manor Park (Pskov disctict), City Square (Porkhov), Open Air park (Velikie Luki), Retro-park (Kunya township). For local inhabitants and tourists it will ensure better access to natural recreation areas, increase the number of visitors to parks, and, importantly, to preserve and sustainably use the parks in the Programme area.

The project foresees infrastructural investments to equip recreational zones of parks with lighting, benches, playground equipment and disposal facilities, as well as to revitalize vegetation and irrigation of the nature objects, to clean the ponds and to reconstruct walking paths and bridges. Infrastructural component of the project is supported by the soft activities, including two 3-days seminars and the series of local study workshops in Latvia and Russia to strengthen interregional collaboration and experience exchange among park and garden professionals. The project will also tackle wider public to increase environmental awareness by delivering green classes, developing nature paths and organizing thematic events.

In longer term, the projects stakeholders – local administrations and park and garden professionals – will benefit from sustainable nature management and increase of the tourist flow to triple after the project is implemented (from ~20 300 visitors in 2014 up to ~60 900 – in 2023). Wider public – locals and tourists – will benefit from the improved living environment and availability of improved nature recreation facilities.