Greening the city of Nijmegen
The municipality of Nijmegen seeks actively for opportunities to make the city centre greener. Green has a very positive effect on our environment. The effect of green on the meso- and microclimate is very clear; with no green, the quantity of fine particles increases and the temperature is significantly higher. In areas with lots of greenery, it is considerably cooler. The municipality cools the city, and therefore reduces the heat island effect, by creating green walls and green roofs and by greening squares and courtyards in mainly compacted areas. And of course these green measures also have a great aesthetic quality. These adaptation measures are part of the Future Cities project, aimed at preparing the city for climate change.
Green walls in front of houses
For years it is possible in Nijmegen to create your own garden in the pavement in front of your house. This can be done by removing a row of tiles in front of the house and plant green in the open soil. Put the tiles you removed upright in the ground as a border for the garden. The rules are simple: the garden can be up to one and a half tile in width. Make sure that enough space remains on the sidewalks (at least 1.2 meters). Residents do not have to ask permission for these gardens. In several places in Nijmegen there are beautiful gardens created with all conceivable styles. They give the city an attractive and cheerful appearance.
Besides these small gardens, Nijmegen is realising several projects with green walls in the city. On a small scale the municipality greens the streets by providing walls with climbing wires for plants to grow. In this simple way a narrow, stony street changes into a green oasis. This initiative came from the local residents. Soon more initiatives followed and now Nijmegen also greens other streets like this.
Vertical green
A larger approach, is the vertical green that has been placed on a building the municipality rents in the city centre. A part of the walls of this building is greened. A structure with shelves is fastened against one wall. On the shelves are plantboxes with a grid attached. This grid is completely grown over with ivy and so the wall immediately got an attractive, green appearance. In springtime various other plants in the boxes bring colour to the green wall. The construction also includes an irrigation system.
Greening of squares and courtyards
Many squares and courtyards can be seen in the downtown of Nijmegen. These squares are often used for parking, only some of them are green. Because of the heat island effect and to improve the environmental quality of the city, the municipality starts the greening of two of these places (Korenmarkt and Eiermarkt). With local residents they have made a design for greening. Implementation will start early 2011.
- Korenmarkt, Nijmegen
Parallel to these project, two students of Van Hall Larenstein studied the flow of rainwater during peak rainfall in the city. The aim of the study was to clarify which courtyards and squares had the best chance for detachment and greening. Then for these locations the students have indicated how green can help the infiltration of water into the ground. In this way, the water storage in the city is revealed and also green is added to the city. Research shows that three courtyards are suitable. Combination of green and water storage can be there functionally combine. Soon the municipality also starts with a design process with local residents which will lead to the actual design of the green spots.
Towards a sustainable Water City Nijmegen read more
