Sustainable Urban Development through the Expansion of the Plovdiv Regatta Venue
Ecopark Maritsa – a fusion of forest and water amidst the city. Symbiosis of the city life, the tranquil nature and the people who join them. Projest showcase for higher quality of life with green and water spaces for recreation, active lifestyle and entertainment!
National
Bulgaria
Plovdiv Municipality
Mainly urban
It refers to a physical transformation of the built environment (hard investment)
No
No
Yes
2018-09-16
As a representative of an organization, in partnership with other organisations
Name of the organisation(s): Rowing Organising Committee - Plovdiv (Organisatzionen Komitet Plovdiv Grebane) Type of organisation: For-profit company First name of representative: Daniel Last name of representative: Hristov Gender: Male Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Secretary General Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 9, Georgi Tringov str. Town: Plovdiv Postal code: 4003 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 89 432 2282 E-mail:info@plovdivrowing.com Website:http://parkmaritsa.eu
Name of the organisation(s): Green Balkans Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Ivelin Last name of representative: Ivanov Gender: Male Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Environmental Protection Director Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 1, Skopje Str. Town: Plovdiv Postal code: 4000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 88 758 9995 E-mail:iivanov@greenbalkans.org Website:http://greenbalkans.org
Name of the organisation(s): The Business for Plovdiv Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Alexander Last name of representative: Staikov Gender: Male Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Executive Director Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 5, Tsanko Lavrentov Str. Town: Plovdiv Postal code: 4000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 89 990 8002 E-mail:office@businessforplovdiv.com Website:http://businessforplovdiv.com
Name of the organisation(s): Bulgarian Rowing Federation Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Svilen Last name of representative: Neikov, PhD Gender: Male Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Chairman Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 75, Vasil Levski Blvd. Town: Sofia Postal code: 1000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 89 799 9773 E-mail:rowing_bg@abv.bg Website:https://rowingbulgaria.com
Name of the organisation(s): Hebros Rowing Club Type of organisation: Sports Club First name of representative: Nikolai Last name of representative: Popov, PhD Gender: Male Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Chairman Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: Plovdiv Regatta Venue, boathhouse 6 Town: Plovdiv Postal code: 4000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 88 729 9568 E-mail:nikipopov67@abv.bg Website:https://bg-bg.facebook.com/groups/197612370373339
Name of the organisation(s): "Ecoforum - for the Nature" Society Type of organisation: Non-profit organisation First name of representative: Pavel Last name of representative: Pandarski Gender: Male Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Chairman Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 16, St. Petka Str. Town: Plovdiv Postal code: 4000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 88 721 0040 E-mail:office@ecoforumbg.org Website:https://ecoforumbg.org
Name of the organisation(s): Vasil Levski Sports School - Plovdiv Type of organisation: Sports High School First name of representative: Rujka Last name of representative: Genova Gender: Female Nationality: Bulgaria Function: Director Address (country of permanent residence for individuals or address of the organisation)<br/>Street and number: 1, Shesti Septemvri Blvd. Town: Plovdiv Postal code: 4000 Country: Bulgaria Direct Tel:+359 88 433 1030 E-mail:ssuvlevski@abv.bg Website:http://suvlevski.com
The growth of the city of Plovdiv and its construction filled with large properties calls for a crucial need to build and allocate space for green areas. Our project targets exactly this, expansion, and completion of an already existing park for recreation and active time in nature. The existing base is insufficient for the current growing population and cannot satisfy the needs and desires of the residents for an active walk in the green and calm, away from the city noise.
The water park is to be used by all citizens of different ages and a variety of activity levels. It will offer water fun and activities of all kinds.
The project aims for the construction of low-energy and fully self-sufficient energy infrastructure. Plovdiv has all the resources for the use of renewable energy sources, especially solar energy. The project aims to build solar power on the existing permanent buildings in the complex/resort/community, which will ensure energy independence of existing and newly built facilities.
The growth of the city of Plovdiv and its construction filled with large properties calls for a crucial need to build and allocate space for green areas. Our project targets exactly this, expansion, and completion of an already existing park for recreation and active time in nature. The existing base is insufficient for the current growing population and cannot satisfy the needs and desires of the residents for an active walk in the green and calm, away from the city noise.
The project aims to build a water base park to be used by all citizens of different ages and a variety of activity levels. It will offer water fun and activities of all kinds.
The aesthetic design of the space is of utmost importance to turn it into a beautiful and cozy green space. Innovative materials and technologies will be used to spare resources and nature. Places for recreation and entertainment, as well as sanitary facilities, will fit in as harmoniously as possible with the environment.
Sustainability
Reconnecting with Nature
Active Lifestyle
Inclusivity
Public Benefit
The sustainable development of the already existing Rowing Base/Rowing Venue/ Regatta Venue and its upgrade, expansion, and growth into Ecopark Maritsa is a development at a steady pace over time, while preserving natural resources and sources for the generations and achieving a balance between social and environmental principles. We provide access to all social groups to environmentally friendly activities and urban recreation among greenery and water.
The project foresees the creation of green areas designed according to all the requirements of landscape architecture.
Useful tree species, specific to the region and climate, which would be planted by citizens and companies involved. The park will be accessible to all who wish, without any barriers and without restrictions toward visitors with reduced mobility.
Citizens will be encouraged to use bicycles to reach the park. It is planned to build the necessary infrastructure for bicycles and non-motor vehicles. There is a planned construction of a skate park, which would be the first of its kind for the city. With this, we aim to attract younger people to be proactive in sports and nature. Additionally, a beach volleyball court will also be built.
The efforts in this regard have been noted with the project winning a national award for Sustainable development of a green urban environment.
The construction of a natural biotope is planned, to preserve the biodiversity in the area and protect bird life.
The project will also meet the criteria of sustainability, aesthetics, inclusiveness, environmental friendliness of the New European Bauhaus initiative. It is intended that all facilities will be energy-saving and powered by solar energy. All roofs will be equipped with solar panels. No NEW permanent buildings will be built on the territory of the park.
The implementation of the project aimed to turn the area into a public space, as a modern city park for an active life in nature without any barriers. This is an inspiring and sustainable idea to transform an unusable and unsightly area into an attractive area for rest and various sports activities for the current and future generation residents of Plovdiv.
The ongoing development of the Plovdiv regatta venue and the surrounding areas for active recreation over the last 10 years has been guided by the desire of all the stakeholders to create an area welcoming to people from all ages and walks of life. The accessibility of the area was one of the major goals during those years and is an inseparable part of the vision for the future of the location. This is done in two main aspects.
One the one hand is the physical accessibility of the venue, making it easy for unhindered access to people with reduced mobility or parents with baby carriages. With all the main utilities covered (lowered sidewalks, ramps on the panoramic bridge, wheelchair accessible elevator for the multi-storey building), the next step in the development of the area is the creation of para-athletic training center and rehabilitation facility that will create unique and so far unseen on regional and trans-regional level opportunities for people with reduced mobility not only to actively use all the facilities but also receive the opportunity to be introduced to the para-rowing sports and become part of the international para-rowing community.
On the other hand, is the creation of a safe space that is accommodating for people of all ethnicities, ages, religions, and levels of disposable income. An area where both people actively involved in professional sports and those simply seeking respite from the busy city life can reconnect with nature in the very heart of the urban area. The stakeholders have gone through great efforts to ensure the availability of a charge free access to most major sport events held at the venue and these efforts provide charge-free access to most of the sport and recreational facilities that will continue to increase in numbers for the future by developing a stimulus program to allow access to the facilities through recycling efforts or involvement in the maintenance of the green areas.
The first problem faced by the stakeholders during the planning phase of the project was how to include the general public as a beneficiary of a project that was initially aimed solely at professional athletes. Because professional sport events are sporadic due to their very nature, one of the main goals was to avoid turning the regatta venue into an underutilized waste of public funds during the remaining days of the year. The challenge was to transform something initially created exclusively as a sport infrastructure into a welcoming environment for a much wider group of citizens and guests to the city of Plovdiv. We were set to transform the area into a safe and welcoming environment to everyone looking for a suitable environment for sport (professional or not), leisure, rest, recreation, workout, social activities, and reconnecting with nature. This is not a goal with a set beginning and an end date, but more like way of thinking and taking decisions for the developing the area, but the results are there to be seen. The regatta venue has become one of the most visited locations of the city proper. There are more than 40 events each year open to the general public that manage to co-exist together with various sport events of local, regional and international significance. The regatta venue was recently voted as the most preferred location for the citizens of Plovdiv. Our efforts in this regard are nowhere near their end though. The next step in the plan includes the creation “green school” for young children than will teach them practical skills for interacting and preserving nature, recycling and taking care of the green parts of the urban habitats and will motivate them to become part of the improvement and the preservation of our city while earning tokens for free use of the various existing and planned attractions of the venue (rowing boats, water ski, natural ice skating ring, various sport playgrounds, etc.).
The four main stakeholders in the preservation and improvement of the venue are the Bulgarian Ministry of Sports (on national level) and the Plovdiv Municipality plus the Organizing Committee (ОС) for the international rowing events held at the venue nearly each year.
The efforts and funding from the Ministry of Sports has been directed mainly at preserving the purpose of the venue as a place for professional sport and training by the license Plovdiv sport clubs as well as a contribution to the budget of the international sport events held there. Besides the financial support, their role is mostly regulatory in nature with little input in the design and implementation efforts that are left for decision by the local stakeholders.
The efforts of the Plovdiv Municipality and the OC are aimed at expanding the role of the venue beyond the one of an infrastructure designed and used exclusively for the small part of the population that is closely involved with the professional sport. They strive to make the public benefit from the project an integral part of every step along the way by including the input from public hearings, good practices implemented in other similar facilities across the world, and other channels for information.
The project had to be related with improving the quality of life of the citizens. The expansion of the existing base should be subject to the construction of a sustainable, green, urban environment, inextricably linked to natural and climate realities. Planting perennial tree and shrub species inherent in soil and climate. Water mirror powered by the river resources of the area. Solar energy, the location of Plovdiv allows its maximum use during two-thirds of the year. These are the basic principles on which we are based in design. The added value is in combining green environment and urban life in one place.
The results from the project can be measured in two main ways. The first way is informal, and it is in the eyes and through the actions of the general population. Over the last 20 years the area has earned recognition as one of the preferred destinations for international sport events that took the area from a generally unknown location that most of the international rowing community looked upon with suspicion and distrust mainly due to the country's political past and the ongoing then war in nearby former Yugoslavia and turning the venue to the host location with the third most international rowing events in the last 10 years. Situated in one of the least developed countries in the EU, the regatta venue managed to earn praise from across the world and find itself on the pages of New York times and the international rowing magazines as the fastest venue in the world. Beyond its significance as a rowing destination, the area has managed to earn its place as the most preferred place for wellness and recreation for the citizens and Plovdiv - visited by more than 2000 people each day and up to 60 000 due to the various cultural and sport events. There is no greater sign for approval for one location than seeing that people choose time and again to spend their leisure time there. Excluding the reduced activity during the pandemic, the project has turned the Regatta Venue in one of the most utilized place for group events in the city with more than 40* events each year (rowing and canoeing events, concerts, pedestrian festivals, fishing competitions, marathons, youth activities, etc.).
The second way to measure the success of the project is more formal in nature. The location has earned the award in the category for Sustainable development of a green urban environment and has won 9 international bids for hosting major sport events over the past 10 years.
* The used data is from the municipal calendar https://www.plovdiv.bg/item/sport
There is currently no second place such as this in Bulgaria. In very few parts of Europe, it can be found. The combination of a water area for sports and entertainment at the same time. On the other hand, including a sustainable green environment. And thirdly, the urban environment ensures the absolute uniqueness of the project. We can also call it innovative, because of the approach of construction – natural materials, design in tune with the surrounding environment.
The park and the Rowing Venue have been an integral part of the city since 1962. Since then the Rowing venue was first discovered at its present site. It was significantly smaller in size than the current one - 1025 meters in length and 68 meters in width. In 1988, after reconstruction, the Rowing Channel was expanded and reached its current form and size - 2250 meters in length and 140 meters in width, 2.70 meters in depth (according to the Olympic standards for rowing competitions). Since its establishment, the Rowing Channel has been a preferred place for walks and active sports for all residents and guests of Plovdiv. About 10 years ago, the alley around the venue was equipped with a bike lane, which also met the new need of the citizens. This ensures the sustainable development of the area over time. The water area to the current base is exclusively reserved for high sports mastery. We can say that the methodology of development of the project is steplike and has always followed the needs of the city and its citizens.
The work on the current project "Ecopark Maritsa" began in 2008. A citizens' initiative committee submitted a proposal to the Municipality of Plovdiv for the construction of Ecopark Maritsa with an adjacent water mirror to it. The Municipality of Plovdiv approves the intention and assigns the design of an architectural team from the city of Plovdiv, which knows well the realities of the region and the requirements for the new green space in the city. The following are a thorough environmental assessment of the project and a survey to the citizens of the city of Plovdiv on how to develop this part of the city. For many years, the project has been considered and redesigned to reach its current version – the construction of a unique city park with a water mirror. Again, the renovation and expansion of the park aims to satisfy the city's increased needs for a green space and active life in nature.
Over the years, the project has served as one of the leading examples to newly formed organizing committees across the world, tasked with the challenges of holding their first international sport event. Many of the good practices developed locally during the staging of multiple international events have been evaluated by the international rowing federation and showcased for adoption by the less experienced event organizers across the world. Local practices in solving long standing challenges in the area of rescue operations during international sport events or other issues related to the holding of major sport events as well as completely new challenges of the modern age (like staging a major sport event with zero transitions of the virus during the peak of the Covid pandemic) have transferred to the collective experience of the international rowing community.
The project for the regeneration of the Plovdiv Regatta venue has tangled one of the major problems faced by most examples for sport infrastructure required for the hosting of major sports events. That is – finding a purpose and justification for the financial and opportunity costs for its existence during the remaining 300+ days of each year when it is not being used for its intended purpose as a staging ground for said international and regional sport events. Time and again the team involved in the project has witnessed with their own eyes and through the experience of people from the international rowing and sports community how staging grounds created for major international sports events are being abandoned and desolated without a purpose shortly after completing their purpose.
After identifying that problem, the team behind the project has collected and reapplied
the sporting good practices in this regard from all across the world and reimagined them in one
united framework that was used to solve the issue at hand. As a result, not only we have turned the regatta venue into one of the preferred international locations for hosting major sport events every year, but we have provided a purpose and utilization of the facility in improving the everyday quality of life for the people from the city by turning the regatta venue into one of the preferred places for active living, reconnecting with nature and respite from the stress of the busy urban life. As a result, the venue and the surrounding park area is not only considered as an international example for dual purpose development for sport infrastructure, but has received a lot of prize from the local population that is not wholly related to the professional sport as one of the preferred urban destination.
As a result of an opinion poll, the Rowing venue won first prize in the category for a sustainable development of green urban environment - the annual LUXURY Property AWARDS 2022 for good examples in
